US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit India in May, as New Delhi and Washington step up efforts to revive trade negotiations and strengthen their broader strategic partnership.
The visit comes amid ongoing discussions between the two sides to finalise a long-pending bilateral trade agreement, with India awaiting clarity on the United States’ tariff structure before moving forward. Officials said an Indian trade delegation is also expected to visit Washington later this month, with dates
currently under discussion.
The talks are aimed at resolving tariff-related issues and securing preferential market access for Indian exports. Sources indicated that India is seeking more favourable terms compared to competitors in Southeast Asia and neighbouring regions, particularly as countries face a baseline tariff regime.
The upcoming visit follows recent high-level engagements in Washington, where Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Rubio to discuss trade, defence cooperation, critical minerals and the Quad framework. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the discussions as constructive, signalling momentum in bilateral engagement.
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Officials from both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening ties across multiple sectors, including defence and strategic technologies. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau also held talks with Misri, reviewing regional and global developments, including the situation in the Persian Gulf.
The two countries are also working towards expanding economic cooperation under “Mission 500”, an initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
As part of this effort, India recently launched the India-US Trade Facilitation Portal, aimed at connecting exporters and importers and easing business engagement. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal described it as a forward-looking step to boost trade flows.
Alongside trade, defence cooperation remains a key pillar of the relationship. Indian Air Force chief AP Singh recently visited the US, holding discussions with senior American military leadership on operational coordination and strategic collaboration.
Rubio’s visit is expected to provide further impetus to India-US ties at a time when both countries are seeking to align economic and strategic priorities in an evolving global landscape.
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