- US Secretary Marco Rubio's second India visit focuses on business.
- Meetings in Mumbai, Jamnagar emphasize energy, commercial investment.
- Visit amid stalled trade talks, US immigration policy tensions.
Marco Rubio India Visit: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to visit India from October 17 to 22 as part of a trip that also includes Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The trip will mark his second official visit to India this year, as he had previously visited India in May. During his India leg, Rubio is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties, energy cooperation and commercial investment.
New Delhi Not In Itinerary
According to an official statement by the US State Department, Rubio will visit Mumbai and Jamnagar in Maharashtra. The published itinerary does not mention New Delhi. The State Department’s announcement also does not explicitly mention a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or confirm any scheduled talks with him. The absence of Delhi from the announced itinerary has particularly drawn attention.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio will embark on a multi-nation diplomatic tour to Uzbekistan and India from October 17 to 22. During the first leg of his trip, Secretary Rubio will travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to participate in the C5+1 Ministerial meeting and will also have bilateral engagements with senior officials from all C5 countries – Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic. Later, Secretary Rubio will travel to India, where he will meet with senior government officials and business leaders.
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2026
However, the US State Department noted that Rubio would meet senior Indian government officials to “strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation.” It added that Rubio would meet business leaders to promote commercial investment and economic cooperation.
What To Expect From Rubio's Second India Visit
While the statement places particular emphasis on energy and business ties, it doesn’t provide details of individual meetings. Amid these discussions, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday said Rubio’s visit would be business focused. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Gor said Rubio would meet Reliance officials, noting that the company is opening its first oil refinery in the US. The visit will also include meetings with Indian government officials, including External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar.
‘This is the secretary's second trip in one year, second official trip...This trip is a little more business-focused... The bilateral trade between the United States and India has been on an incredible upshoot. This time the Secretary will be going to Mumbai, and he will have a lot of meetings there. He will also be going to Jamnagar, where he will meet some of the folks at Reliance. Reliance is one of the biggest oil refinery companies in the world... They are opening the first refinery in the United States in 50 years... While he is in Mumbai, he will be meeting with Government of India officials. We expect the Minister, Dr Jaishankar, to be joining us there along with other individuals,” Gor said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Delhi | Bloomberg New Economy Forum | On United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio visit to India, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, says, "This is the secretary's second trip in one year, second official trip...This trip is a little more business-focused... The bilateral trade between the United States and India has been on an incredible upshoot. This time the Secretary will be going to Mumbai, and he will have a lot of meetings there. He will also be going to Jamnagar, where he will meet some of the folks at Reliance. Reliance is one of the biggest oil refinery companies in the world... They are opening the first refinery in the United States in 50 years... While he is in Mumbai, he will be meeting with Government of India officials. We expect the Minister, Dr Jaishankar, to be joining us there along with other individuals..." (Source: Bloomberg Economic Forum via ANI)
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2026
Gor’s statement suggest that Rubio’s second India visit is expected to focus primarily on strategic cooperation, energy ties and commercial opportunities, particularly through his meetings in Mumbai and Jamnagar.
Why Rubio's Visit Is Being Closely Watched
Rubio’s visit is closely watched as it comes amid tensions over US immigration policy affecting Indian professionals. The Trump administration recently announced the suspension of Microsoft, Infosys, Tata, Wipro, Cognizant, Capgemini and HCL from the Permanent Labour Certification (PERM) programme, which allows employers to sponsor eligible foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders, for employment-based green cards.
The visit also follows objectionable remarks by US Vice President JD Vance about H-1B workers, which was also condemned by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) as “unwarranted.” The MEA had stressed that Indian professionals in the US are highly educated and contribute significantly to its economy and innovation ecosystem.
India-US Trade Deal Talks
Most importantly, Rubio’s visit comes as negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement continue without a clear breakthrough. Earlier this month, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the talks had reached a plateau, while officials from both countries maintain that negotiations are ongoing. Considering all these points, Rubio’s second visit to India in short span of months is being closely watched.
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