US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States is arranging a visit by President Donald Trump to India early next year, as the two nations work toward a bilateral trade deal. Rubio made the remarks in an interview with Indian media outlet IANS, published on Saturday.
Rubio to Travel to India for Preparations
Rubio indicated he is likely to travel to India later this year to lay the groundwork for Trump's visit. 'We're working toward sometime early next year to have the president come,' Rubio told IANS.
Modi-Trump Meeting at G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Trump last week on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France. Trump described their conversation as 'very good.' India has been pressing for a Trump visit for months, potentially as part of a meeting involving Japan and Australia.
Rocky Relations and Trade Deal Hopes
India-US ties have been strained over the past year due to US tariffs on Indian goods, Washington's sanctions on India for purchasing Russian oil, and closer US engagement with Pakistan, India's arch-rival. Rubio visited India last month to repair relations, but tensions flared again after the US Navy killed three Indian sailors in attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.
In the IANS interview, Rubio expressed optimism about a trade deal: 'We're on the last inches of getting it done and it's very positive.'
