US top diplomat Marco Rubio to visit India and Uzbekistan

WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will depart on Saturday ​on a five-day trip to India and Uzbekistan, the State Department ​said, adding that he will discuss energy cooperation in India.

Rubio ⁠will travel to Samarkand in Uzbekistan and to Mumbai and Jamnagar in India, ​the State Department said in a statement on Tuesday.

In India, Rubio will meet government ​officials to “exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation,” the statement said.

Indian and American officials indicated earlier this month that long-running efforts to finalize ​a bilateral trade agreement have stalled again.

US-India ties have been rocky this past year over ​issues including President Donald Trump’s repeated claim of brokering an India-Pakistan ceasefire and a US military attack ‌on ⁠a ship off Oman that killed three Indian seafarers.

New Delhi has also raised concerns over US legislation allowing Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that purchase Russian energy, part of Washington’s efforts to pressure Moscow ​over its invasion of ​Ukraine.

India only briefly ⁠reduced purchases from Russia in early 2026 but they have since jumped, especially since the supply shock that followed ​the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The announcement of Rubio’s visit also comes ​during ongoing ⁠protests in India over the removal of 130 million voters from electoral rolls. Washington has thus far not commented on the demonstrations.

In Uzbekistan, Rubio will participate in ⁠bilateral engagements ​with officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan ​and Kyrgyzstan, and lead a delegation of over 200 business leaders, the State Department said.