US State Secy Marco Rubio lands in Kolkata, kicks off India tour; visits Mother Teresa House
Kolkata, May 23
Signalling a major diplomatic push, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning, marking the first visit by a top American diplomat to the eastern metropolis in 14 years.
The brief stopover serves as the opening leg of a high-stakes, four-day India tour aimed at repairing strained bilateral ties and reinforcing regional partnerships.
Shortly after landing, Rubio visited the Mother House in central Kolkata, the global headquarters of Saint Teresa's Missionaries of Charity, and its adjoining Children's Home, a visit carrying strong symbolic and cultural resonance. The last US Secretary of State to set foot in Kolkata was Hillary Clinton in May 2012.
Rubio's first official visit to India marked a significant step in expanding bilateral cooperation between Washington and New Delhi in areas such as trade, technology, defence, energy security and Indo-Pacific strategy.
The visit assumes significance amid growing strategic convergence between the two countries and comes ahead of the upcoming QUAD foreign ministers' meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 26.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor was also present at the airport to receive the US Secretary of State upon his arrival in Kolkata.
The announcement regarding Rubio's arrival was made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor through a post on X. He stated that Rubio would later travel to New Delhi to hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian leaders.
In a post on X, he said, "Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defence, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!"
According to the US ambassador, the upcoming engagements will primarily focus on strengthening cooperation in key strategic sectors, including defence partnerships, advanced technologies, trade ties and collaboration under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) framework.
Setting a highly collaborative stage for this key visit, Marco Rubio had earlier on Thursday announced Washington's keenness to significantly scale up energy partnerships with India, declaring that the United States is prepared to supply "as much energy" as New Delhi is willing to buy.
Interacting with the media in Miami before he departed for Sweden and India, Rubio indicated that the US has already initiated high-level talks with Indian authorities to boost energy exports, a development propelled by American oil and gas production hitting historic highs.
The top American diplomat is slated to undertake this official tour of India from May 23 to 26, with a packed itinerary covering Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. The high-level engagements during the visit are anticipated to primarily centre around trade dynamics, energy security, and defence cooperation.
To anchor this economic agenda, Rubio underscored that Washington aims to embed itself more deeply into India's diversified energy matrix, whilst hinting at the possibility of collaborative arrangements involving Venezuelan crude provisions.
These remarks came directly against the backdrop of queries regarding the economic pressures India navigates due to volatile global fuel pricing and maritime logistical vulnerabilities stemming from recent instabilities surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.
Characterising the relationship between the two democracies as robust under these testing global conditions, the US Secretary of State described India as a "great partner" and stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties across multiple sectors.Furthermore, Rubio affirmed his scheduled attendance at the forthcoming QUAD foreign ministers' meeting, which will be hosted in New Delhi as part of his diplomatic itinerary.
In a major diplomatic deployment matching this regional focus, India is gearing up to host the foreign ministers of the QUAD nations in the national capital to deliberate on the evolving security matrix of the Indo-Pacific and the escalating friction points across West Asia. The high-level congregation of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue--bringing together India, the United States, Australia, and Japan--is locked in for May 26 under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Official communications from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the strategic huddle will see the participation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Alongside the core plurilateral talks, the visiting dignitaries are slated to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engage in structured, one-on-one bilateral sessions with Jaishankar.
"In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the ministers will build on discussions held in Washington DC on July 1, 2025," the MEA said.
The upcoming discussions are poised to deepen operational synergies among the partner democracies, as New Delhi steers the grouping's agenda as the rotational chair.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see US engagement picking up with India. Rubio visiting Mother Teresa's place shows respect for India's humanitarian legacy. But let's not pretend this is just about photo ops—the Quad and trade deals are the real agenda. Hope it leads to concrete outcomes, not just talk.
Nice gesture visiting Mother House. But honestly, after all the tariffs and trade tensions under Trump, I'm cautiously optimistic. Rubio saying US will supply 'as much energy as India buys' sounds good, but we need to ensure our energy security isn't compromised by geopolitical strings attached.
Last US Secretary of State to visit Kolkata was Hillary in 2012—that's 13 years! Finally some attention to the eastern corridor. Rubio visiting Mother House is a smart cultural bridge, but I hope the Quad discussions also address maritime security issues that directly affect Indian trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio seems serious about strengthening ties with India. Visiting Mother House shows cultural sensitivity. But India should be careful—energy dependence on US could become a leverage point later. We need balanced cooperation, not a one-sided relationship. Still, positive step forward for Quad and overall partnership.
Good diplomatic move by Rubio. Kolkata used to be a key diplomatic hub back in the day—nice to see it getting attention again. But let's see if these visits translate into real benefits for common Indians. Lower energy prices and better trade terms would be welcome. Fingers crossed for the Quad meeting results! 🇮🇳
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