Washington, October 2026 : US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will begin his India visit in Mumbai on Tuesday with a tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, followed by talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, before travelling to Jamnagar in Gujarat for engagements focused on energy cooperation and commercial ties.
The US State Department described the trip as Rubio’s second official visit to India this year. His itinerary also includes Samarkand in Uzbekistan, with the overall tour scheduled from October 17 to 22.
According to the State Department, Rubio will meet senior Indian government officials to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global developments, and discuss opportunities to expand energy cooperation. He is also scheduled to engage business leaders to promote commercial investment and economic collaboration.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Rubio is expected to arrive in Mumbai at 2:15 pm IST on Tuesday. At 3:40 pm, he will lay a wreath at the 26/11 memorial at the Taj hotel, commemorating those killed in the November 2008 terrorist attacks. His meeting with Jaishankar is scheduled for 3:50 pm, followed by a “Freedom 250” reception at 6:35 pm. Rubio is also expected to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The tribute carries significance for bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. The November 2008 attacks claimed 166 lives, including six American citizens. The visit comes amid continuing Indian concerns over Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership.
Rubio is scheduled to travel to Jamnagar on October 21, where his engagements are expected to include discussions related to energy cooperation and business ties.
US Says India Trade Deal Is Close
Ahead of his India visit, Rubio indicated that Washington and New Delhi were approaching an agreement on trade. Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, he said negotiations were nearing completion.
“We’re trying to finalize a trade deal with India right now. We’re very close to doing that,” Rubio said.
He also linked the ongoing negotiations to broader discussions concerning US national security decisions, referring to President Donald Trump’s waiver on penalties targeting buyers of Russian energy.
The proposed trade agreement would conclude months of negotiations between the two countries. Talks have faced challenges over US tariffs and India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, which have been points of contention in bilateral economic relations.
Rubio’s visit is expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to assess progress on trade, energy cooperation and wider strategic priorities. While his remarks suggest that an agreement may be approaching, no final deal was announced in the statement.
The visit comes at a time when India and the United States are seeking to deepen economic and strategic cooperation while managing differences over trade policy and energy sourcing. Discussions between Rubio and Indian officials are likely to be closely watched for indications of progress towards resolving these outstanding issues.
