On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold his first bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Washington. Jaishankar is visiting the US at the invitation of the US Government to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. Rubio’s meeting with Jaishankar is noteworthy, as it marks Rubio's first official bilateral engagement as Secretary of State and underscores the importance of strengthening US-India relations.

In addition to his meeting with Jaishankar, Rubio will also participate in the first QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) ministerial of the Biden administration. The QUAD consists of the US, India, Japan, and Australia, and has been elevated to a leadership level by the Biden administration. Rubio’s decision to prioritize India in his first bilateral engagement highlights the significance of US-India cooperation in regional security and diplomatic efforts.

Marco Rubio, a former US Senator from Florida, was confirmed as Secretary of State by a unanimous 99-0 vote in the US Senate. Known for his hawkish stance on China and his support for stronger India-US ties, Rubio has previously introduced legislation to treat India as an ally comparable to Japan and NATO members. His tenure as Secretary of State is expected to further solidify US support for India in key areas such as technology transfers and countering terrorism.