US Secretary Rubio Visits Mumbai, Sparks Diplomatic Reaction
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mumbai, India, and Jamnagar, Gujarat, focusing on energy and investment discussions with Indian officials. The visit sparked a political reaction due to the arrangement of meetings.
What happened
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mumbai, India, on Monday, holding talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and visiting an oil refinery in Jamnagar.
- This itinerary was arranged after the US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, stated that Washington expected Jaishankar to travel to meet Rubio.
- Opposition leaders criticized the arrangement, describing it as ‘summoning India’s External Affairs Minister on Indian soil’.
- The visit focused on energy, trade, and investment, alongside defence and critical technologies, as outlined by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
- Rubio also visited Reliance Industries’ world’s largest single-site refinery in Jamnagar, attended a reception hosted by the Ambani family.
- US Trade Minister Piyush Goyal stated that a deal was in its final stages, but India would not sign until its exporters had an edge.
- Friction exists over tariffs and Russian oil purchases.
- US Ambassador Gor emphasized Rubio’s role in supporting the President’s broader national security objectives, delegating challenging issues to special envoys.
Original reporting
- Al Jazeera: Why Marco Rubio’s visit to Mumbai has ruffled feathers in India
2026-10-18T05:16:49+00:00 - PBS NewsHour: Rubio heads to Central Asia as some wonder if he's keeping the most pressing matters at a distance
2026-10-18T19:49:23+00:00