Ahead of PM’s talks with Russian Prez, Rubio hails ‘enduring ties’ with India

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described India-US ties as “a defining relationship of the 21st century”.

Rubio, a key member of US President Donald Trump’s cabinet, conveyed the message through a post on X shared by the US embassy in India. “The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century,” the embassy quoted him as saying. The post went live less than 10 minutes before the Modi-Putin talks on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Tianjin, China.

The embassy said, “This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defence and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey.”

The remarks come at a time when India is grappling with a US-imposed trade tariff war. Trump has slapped 50 per cent duties on Indian exports, with half of these seen as punitive for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil.

India has defended its decision to buy oil from Moscow as essential for ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion citizens, and termed the US tariffs “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”, vowing to take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests”.