New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday strongly advocated deeper India-US defence manufacturing cooperation, calling joint military production “ideal” as India rapidly emerges as a major global manufacturing hub.
Speaking during his four-day India visit, Rubio said Washington sees enormous potential in expanding long-term defence collaboration with India, citing the country’s industrial capabilities, skilled workforce, and growing strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Joint production is ideal for both countries, and that is definitely something we need to build on,” Rubio said in an interview with CNN-News18.
BIG STATEMENTS FROM SoS RUBIO
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to @CNNnews18
Accused Iran of unlawfully attempting to control the Strait of Hormuz, driving global oil prices higher
Rubio emphasised strengthening US-India ties through trade, defence cooperation and… pic.twitter.com/QtUY15aGz7
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Highlighting India’s expanding manufacturing ecosystem, Rubio noted that several nations — including the United States — are increasingly viewing India as a critical defence production partner.
“India has tremendous capacity, a highly skilled workforce, and companies are very interested in investing here. India could become a tremendous contributor to the global defence base,” he added.
Trump Invites Modi to White House
In a significant diplomatic development, Rubio also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and formally conveyed an invitation from US President Donald Trump for Modi to visit the White House in the near future.
The high-level meeting focused on strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership amid shifting geopolitical dynamics and growing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Rubio’s India visit comes at a crucial juncture as both countries seek to deepen strategic coordination in defence, technology, trade, and regional security.
Focus on Defence, Technology and Indo-Pacific
During the talks, both sides discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors including defence manufacturing, advanced technology, semiconductor supply chains, trade, and regional security architecture.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the meeting as “productive” and said stronger India-US ties would help preserve a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
He also confirmed that Rubio personally delivered Trump’s White House invitation to Modi on behalf of the US administration.
The diplomatic outreach is being viewed as a strong signal of Washington’s intent to further elevate strategic ties with New Delhi as global power equations continue to evolve.
Rubio’s Kolkata Visit Draws Attention
Before arriving in New Delhi, Rubio made a brief but high-profile stop in Kolkata, becoming the first US Secretary of State to visit the city since Hillary Clinton travelled there in 2012.
The visit underlined Washington’s expanding diplomatic engagement with India beyond the national capital.
India-US Partnership Expanding Rapidly
Following the meeting, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the United States, saying discussions covered sustained progress in the bilateral strategic partnership along with regional and global peace and security concerns.
India and the United States have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years across defence production, emerging technologies, semiconductor ecosystems, and Indo-Pacific strategic initiatives, making the partnership one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical alignments.
