US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to travel to India again in October, with the proposed visit coming as New Delhi and Washington work to strengthen ties. The trip could also set the stage for a possible Quad leaders’ summit in the US in December.
The Quad brings together India, the United States, Japan and Australia. A leaders’ meeting is likely to take place alongside the G20 summit at the Trump National Doral Miami in Florida on December 14-15, with the US holding the G20 presidency.
Quad officials step up consultations
Preparations for the next round of high-level engagement have gathered pace, with senior officials from the four countries holding discussions on the grouping’s priorities.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hosted a meeting of Quad Sherpas in New Delhi earlier this week. The meeting was attended by US Special Envoy to South and Central Asia and Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Australia’s Deputy Secretary of the Strategic Planning and Coordination Group Elly Lawson, and Japan’s Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Hiroyuki Namazu.
A joint statement from the Ministry of External Affairs and the US State Department said the discussions focused on implementing the outcomes of the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting held in New Delhi in May and preparing for the next foreign ministers’ meeting.
Focus on Indo-Pacific cooperation
The officials discussed maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response.
They also reviewed developments across the Indo-Pacific as well as broader regional and global issues.
Gor said the grouping was moving forward with “clear purpose", while highlighting the need for an action plan and concrete deliverables.
India-US ties in focus
India was earlier expected to host the Quad leaders’ meeting, but tensions with Washington had complicated ties. Differences emerged over issues including US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediation between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor and Washington’s tariff measures against India.
With bilateral engagement improving and trade negotiations continuing, Rubio’s expected October visit could provide an opportunity to advance discussions ahead of the proposed Quad summit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the G20 summit in the US in December.