Last updated:
Rubio hints at India-US defense cooperation, joint manufacturing and stronger Indo-Pacific coordination during Delhi visit
Rubio supported India as a potential joint defense manufacturing hub and confirmed that a comprehensive US-India trade agreement is nearing finalization. File photo/Reuters
In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the global shipping blockade imposed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz is “unacceptable” and “must be immediately reversed”. Kicking off his strategic visit to India, Rubio revealed that Washington prefers a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Middle East energy crisis, but the Trump administration will not allow blockades to become the new normal. Highlighting a fundamental shift in bilateral relations, Rubio endorsed India as a potential joint defense manufacturing hub and confirmed that a comprehensive US-India trade agreement is close to finalization.
The full text of the interview is shared here US State Department website: :
Question: So the Secretary of State marco rubioThank you very much for taking the time to do this interview. Actually, this afternoon you met Prime Minister Modi. In fact, you even invited Prime Minister Modi to come to DC, the India-US relationship is considered one of the most important relationships of the 21st century. What are the main results of your visit to India?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I see this as a continuation of a very strong relationship and looking for new areas of opportunity. We hope that a trade agreement will be finalized very soon, which will strengthen both our countries. We clearly share many of the same security concerns. We are also using India as a platform for our next Quad meeting of foreign ministers. In fact, this was the first meeting that I did as Secretary of State, it was a Quad meeting, and we had another meeting to do, and so we felt this was the right place to do it.
Obviously we have a lot in common. There has been considerable investment by Indian companies in the United States. So I see this visit, like anything else, as a continuation of what we already have as a foundation and continuing to build on the progress that has been made over the last year and a half in the second Trump administration.
Question: Okay. Secretary Sir, have India-US differences on Russian oil purchases now largely resolved?
SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, there was clearly nothing in the Russian oil purchase issue – it was not about India. It was about a desire to impose costs on Russia because of the war in Ukraine, and India is a big buyer, but it was never aimed at India. Yet some new dynamics have emerged since that time. And so I think what you’ve seen is that in the process of addressing this, we’ve also seen an opportunity for India to continue its plan, its already existing plan, to diversify its energy sources. And that includes the United States and potentially some other countries like Venezuela. So we want to continue to be a good partner in that regard.
And so I don’t think this issue will come up very prominently in the future, because India was already moving towards diversification, and so, as I said, hopefully the war in Ukraine will end.
Question: Secretary, the State Department release said the focus of your visit will be on defense cooperation. So is Washington considering expanding defense cooperation with India beyond technology partnership to joint manufacturing and supply chain integration?
Secretary Rubio: Yes, look, I mean, I think one of the key areas where we can build our partnership and relationship is the defense sector, first of all coordinating the interoperability of our forces for any future contingencies, and people often think that means war, but it could also mean a humanitarian crisis somewhere in the Indo-Pacific, where, jointly, we might be able to respond together. I think the straits remind us how important shipping lanes are and how important protecting global shipping is to both of our economies. And so the ability of our navies and our armies to work together and exercise together and learn about each other will allow us, in a contingency somewhere, to be able to work together.
As far as joint production is concerned, that would be ideal. I mean, obviously it’s something that we have to pursue, but it would be ideal because India has tremendous potential. It has a highly skilled workforce, and I know our companies are very interested in producing here. And I think not only the United States and India, but many countries around the world need to develop their defense industrial base, and I think India can be a tremendous contributor to that.
Question: Okay. Mr. Secretary, what does the United States expect from India as far as the West Asia crisis is concerned? And perhaps since you are here in India, I would also like to use this as an opportunity to ask you about the status of the ongoing negotiations, as this is impacting my country as well. Fuel prices have increased and energy shortages are being reported, etc. So when can we expect the situation in the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal, and can you share some details about the talks?
Secretary Rubio: Sure. Well, look, I mean, the reason oil prices are going up, the reason there are energy shortages in some parts of the world is because Iran has decided to try to take control of the Strait of Hormuz illegally, illegally and criminally, and threaten to sink commercial ships that don’t pay them at all or don’t follow their instructions. This is completely in violation of anything known – or allowed – in law.
And I think both the United States and India share a very common belief, a strong common belief, that what is happening in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable. This cannot be; This should be reversed immediately. And by the way, if this becomes the new normal, other countries in the region, and around the world, will probably decide that they’re going to turn some of the waterways near their coastlines into toll lanes. And before you know it, the entire system of international trade is in danger. So I think India and the United States are completely united in this. We talked to the Prime Minister about this today, who is also very strong about this.
Obviously, as far as negotiations are concerned, it is not easy to negotiate with Iran. It is a fractured system led by fundamentalist clerics. But he said, we will give it every opportunity. We would prefer a negotiated peaceful end to not only the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, but more importantly, the nuclear threat from Iran. We would like this to be resolved through dialogue. And we will continue. And we—even as I’m talking to you now, there are people involved in hopes of moving that conversation forward. But the President has made it clear that the status quo will not remain. One way or another, we are going to resolve this and the President has been clear about that.
Question: Absolutely last question, very quick. Can we expect the Quad leaders summit to take place this year?
SECRETARY RUBIO: We want to. We have to find an opportunity to do this. We would like to do this as a standalone event – ​​and perhaps if there is an opportunity to do it as an add-on to a broader gathering where all the leaders will be present. In some countries, it’s an election year, including ours, so it makes traveling a little more difficult. But ideally, we would like to have a Quad meeting of leaders. It would be perfect if we could do it as a standalone meeting, but we’d like to bring them together, even if it’s just so they’re in the same place at the same time, as a side meeting.
But it is an important signal to continue building on the Quad, but equally important as the leaders’ meeting is turning the Quad into not just a meeting that happens with countries that like each other, but a mechanism that starts producing real work product. And we have started to see that happening. This is the most exciting part about the Quad.
Question: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for taking the time today.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you. thank you so much.
Question: Thank you very much.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you.
read more
