US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio has announced that Washington and New Delhi are close to finalising a trade agreement, as he held talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Mumbai to advance economic and strategic cooperation.
The discussions come after months of stalled trade negotiations amid tensions over US tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian oil. Despite the disagreements, both countries continue to strengthen their defence and technology ties, with Washington viewing India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific and a counterweight to China.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Rubio expressed optimism about the progress of the trade negotiations, saying only a limited number of issues remained unresolved.
“We’re very, very close. I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement. I think there’s a small number of items left to wrap up, so I think that will happen shortly.”
Marco Rubio
Rubio also confirmed that his meeting with Jaishankar covered energy security, defence cooperation and the broader US-India strategic partnership. “In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and I discussed energy security and defense cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership,” Rubio said in a post on X.
The Mumbai meeting reflects efforts by Washington and New Delhi to maintain momentum in their relationship despite disagreements over trade policy and energy purchases.
India’s imports of Russian oil and US tariffs have been among the issues complicating negotiations over a trade agreement. Rubio’s remarks indicate that the two sides believe they are approaching a resolution, although the remaining issues have yet to be finalised.
Energy security and defence cooperation also featured in the discussions, highlighting the broader interests underpinning the relationship beyond trade.
The two countries have continued to develop defence and technology links, while the United States regards closer cooperation with India as significant to its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific.
Rubio Addresses Ukraine Interceptor Concerns
Also, Rubio addressed concerns over the possible non-delivery of a batch of missile interceptors purchased for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme.
He acknowledged that some interceptors may not have been delivered but rejected suggestions that the situation resulted from a deliberate political decision to withhold military support from Kyiv. “I think the important takeaway is that there has not been some deliberate political directive to go out and harm Ukraine,” Rubio told journalists.
“There’s nothing being deliberately denied to Ukraine. It’s simply a balance between our obligations to other partners, and frankly, our own standards and requirements for our own facilities as well.”
Marco Rubio
Rubio also criticised claims that the United States was withholding information from Ukraine and that the alleged denial had resulted in Ukrainian deaths.
“I saw somebody associated with the Ukrainian government say that people in Ukraine are dying because the U.S. is denying them information. That’s scandalous. That’s outrageous. That’s just simply not true.”
Marco Rubio
His comments came as Washington continues to manage competing demands for military equipment and support among its partners, including Ukraine.
Rubio disclosed that he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 45 minutes today. According to Zelenskyy, their discussion covered ballistic missile interceptors, early warnings of Russian attacks and the status of Starlink and Starshield satellite services.
The Ukrainian President said that the satellite services needed to be restored, adding another issue to the discussions between Kyiv and Washington over military and technological support.
Rubio Pays Tribute
As part of his visit to Mumbai, the US Secretary of state also paid tribute to victims of the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in the city, which killed people including six American citizens.
“At the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, I laid a wreath honoring the victims of the horrific November 26, 2008 terrorist attacks, including six American citizens.
“We remember those lost, honor the courage of those who responded, and reaffirm the enduring U.S.-India partnership and our shared commitment to combating terrorism.”
Marco Rubio
Rubio’s visit to India followed a trip to Uzbekistan earlier in the week aimed at promoting trade and strengthening ties with Central Asian countries.
While Rubio’s remarks on Ukraine addressed a separate set of concerns, his visit to India underscored Washington’s parallel efforts to advance strategic partnerships and resolve outstanding economic issues.
With the US-India trade agreement still awaiting finalisation, the coming discussions will determine whether the two sides can settle the remaining issues and translate their stated progress into a completed deal.
