US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, wife Jeanette visit Mother House in Kolkata as part of his four-day visit to India (Ld)
Kolkata, May 23
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, on Saturday visited Mother House, the headquarters of Saint Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning, as part of his four-day visit to India, and was welcomed by US Ambassador Sergio Gor at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Marco Rubio was accompanied by his wife Jeanette D. Rubio. They left from The Mother Teresa House of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata after spending some time there. He visited the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity and spoke with its officials. US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor was also present during the visit.
The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa in Kolkata, is a Catholic congregation dedicated to serving the poor, sick and destitutes across the world.
In a post on X, Gor, the US Ambassador to India, said, "Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister @narendramodi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defence, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!"
Rubio became the first US secretary of state to visit Kolkata since Hillary Clinton travelled to the city in May 2012. The visit came only weeks after West Bengal witnessed a major political change with a BJP-led government assuming power in the state
The US Department of State said Rubio would also visit the Children's Home in the city during his Kolkata stopover.
Rubio's India itinerary, scheduled from May 23 to 26 and also covering Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, is being viewed as diplomatically significant because of planned energy discussions with India and meetings involving ministers from the Quad nations.
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, 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.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Great move by Rubio to combine diplomacy with a visit to Mother Teresa's headquarters. Shows respect for India's spirit of service. Looking forward to what comes out of the Quad meeting and energy discussions in Delhi. Hope it's not just photo ops but real substance.
Honestly, while it's nice that he visited Mother House, I'm more interested in what concrete outcomes come from this trip. We hear a lot about partnerships but often see little ground-level benefit for common Indians. Hope this Quad meeting yields something tangible for our farmers and small businesses.
First US Secretary of State to visit Kolkata since Hillary Clinton in 2012! That's a 13-year gap. About time they recognized the cultural capital of India. And with the political change in Bengal, this sends a strong signal about India's growing global role. 💙✈️
I appreciate the gesture, but let's not forget that while Rubio visits Mother House, many Kolkata slums still lack basic amenities. Maybe he should also see the real Kolkata beyond the headquarters? Still, good diplomacy. Let's see if this translates to more US investment in Bengal.
As an American, I'm glad to see our Secretary of State honoring Mother Teresa's legacy. Her work is an inspiration globally. This visit along with the upcoming Quad meeting shows the deepening US-India relationship. Looking forward to more collaboration on energy and security. 🇺🇸🤝🇮🇳
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