New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to India emphasises the importance of the Quad partnership, the US Embassy in India stated on Friday.
While sharing pictures of Quad Foreign Ministers on X, the US Embassy in India stated, “Standing together for a free and open Indo-Pacific. From supporting regional security to diversifying critical minerals supply chains, Secretary Marco Rubio’s upcoming visit to India emphasizes the importance of the Quad partnership.”
Quad brings together four countries — India, Australia, Japan, and the United States — with a commitment to work as a force for global good and to support an open, free, and inclusive Indo-Pacific that is prosperous and resilient, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.
India is set to host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 26. At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Marco Rubio, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit India to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Ahead of his visit to India, Marco Rubio said that Washington wants to expand energy ties with New Delhi and deepen coordination through the Quad, while describing India as a “great ally” and “great partner” amid global supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
Leaving for India, with a stopover in Europe, Rubio told reporters in Miami that the US was ready to increase energy exports to India as concerns grow over disruptions to global oil and gas supplies following tensions in West Asia.
“We wanna sell them as much energy as they’ll buy,” Rubio said when asked about India being “deeply affected” by the energy supply situation and the shutting of the Strait of Hormuz. “Obviously, you’ve seen, I think we’re at historic levels of US production and US export. We wanna be able to do more.”
Rubio said discussions with India on energy cooperation were already underway and would continue during his upcoming visit.
“We were already in talks with them to do more. We want next week as well. So there are opportunities,” he said.
The Secretary of State described India as an increasingly important strategic partner for the United States.
“There’s a lot to work on with India. They’re a great ally, a great partner. We do a lot of good work with them,” Rubio said. “It is an important trip. I’m glad we’re able to do it because I think there’ll be a lot for us to talk about.”
Rubio also underscored the significance of the Quad grouping. “We’ll also meet with the Quad there, which is important,” he said.
He recalled that his first official meeting after taking office as Secretary of State had been with Quad partners.
“I believe as I went, I got sworn in, I did the thing in the lobby, and then I went right upstairs, and that was my first meeting,” he said. “And I’m glad we were able to do it now in India. And we’re gonna do one later in the year as well.”
–IANS
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