Rubio meets Jaishankar in Mumbai, says India-US trade deal is 'very, very close'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on Tuesday, with US Ambassador Sergio Gor and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also present, according to ANI.

Rubio, speaking after meeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Gateway of India, said the deal was all but done: “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.” He added that he hoped to “have some good news to announce soon and sign it thereafter,” Mathrubhumi reported.

On energy, Rubio pitched India as a “refining superpower” capable of processing heavy crude: “as more and more Venezuelan oil comes online, it’s something they can do,” he said, noting India’s pre-existing oil concessions in Venezuela, Mathrubhumi reported.

In a post on X, Rubio said the pair discussed energy security and defence cooperation while reaffirming the strategic partnership, The Daily Jagran reported.

He also visited the Taj Memorial inside the hotel, where the Ministry of External Affairs said he would lay a wreath for victims of terrorism, and interacted with the press there, Mathrubhumi reported. The memorial honours the victims of the 26/11 attacks, IANS reported.

Separately, Jaishankar met a US Congressional delegation — Jason Smith, David Schweikert, Elise Stefanik, Andy Ogles and Laura Friedman — discussing trade, energy, security and technology, IANS reported.