News Desk: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assured India that Washington’s relationship with Pakistan, or any other country, will never come at the expense of its ties with New Delhi. His remarks come amid questions over the direction of US-Pakistan relations and concerns about whether Washington could return to a policy similar to its approach during the 1970s.
In an interview with The Indian Express, published on Wednesday, Rubio rejected comparisons between the current geopolitical situation and the era of former US President Richard Nixon and his national security adviser Henry Kissinger. During that period, Washington was widely seen as maintaining a tilt towards Pakistan, particularly during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
“What everyone should be assured of in India is that our relationship, not just with Pakistan but with any country in the world, will never come at the expense of our relationship,” Rubio said, emphasising that the United States does not view its ties with India in those terms.
He also pointed out that the global political landscape has changed significantly since the Cold War. “The world looks nothing like it did back then,” he said, explaining why he would not use the 1970s as a reference point for understanding current US foreign policy.
Rubio added that Washington’s engagement with Pakistan could, in certain circumstances, have a constructive role in discouraging actions that might lead to conflict. He suggested that US influence could be used positively to promote regional stability.
Trade deal and strategic cooperation in focus
Rubio is visiting India for a three-day official trip. He arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday and met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss bilateral cooperation across several areas, including trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people relations.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar said the two sides had discussed ways to strengthen their partnership and exchanged views on regional and international developments.
Rubio described India and the United States as being close to finalising a trade agreement, with only a few issues remaining to be resolved. His comments have raised expectations of further progress in negotiations between the two countries.
During the discussions, the US secretary of state also encouraged India to expand energy trade and increase its purchases of American technologies and systems. These issues remain important elements of the broader economic and strategic partnership.
Jamnagar visit to focus on energy
On Wednesday, Rubio travelled to Jamnagar in Gujarat for the second leg of his visit. The city is home to one of the world’s largest refining complexes, operated by Reliance Industries.
According to reports, discussions during the visit are expected to focus on strengthening energy cooperation between the two countries.
Rubio’s assurances on India-US relations come at a time when both countries are seeking to deepen cooperation in trade, defence and energy while navigating complex regional relationships.
His remarks underline Washington’s stated position that engagement with Pakistan does not have to undermine its strategic partnership with India. However, progress on the proposed trade agreement and other areas of cooperation will depend on the outcome of ongoing discussions between the two governments.
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