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Rubio declines to comment on India protests, cites domestic sovereignty

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has sidestepped questions about anti-government demonstrations in India, characterizing the matter as an internal affair. He also dismissed UN human rights experts during the exchange.

LSN India · 21 October 2026

Rubio declines to comment on India protests, cites domestic sovereignty

Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, declined to engage with questions regarding ongoing protests in India, stating that such matters fall squarely within New Delhi's purview as a sovereign nation. When pressed on the issue during a recent interaction, Rubio maintained that the US does not comment on what it considers India's domestic political developments.

During the same exchange, Rubio was dismissive of UN human rights experts, referring to the phrase 'UN experts' as an oxymoron. His remarks reflected a broader skepticism toward international human rights bodies that are often critical of individual nations' internal affairs.

The comments come amid reports of significant public demonstrations in India related to civil society concerns. The US diplomatic stance underscores Washington's traditional approach of avoiding direct criticism of major allies' internal policies, particularly on sensitive political matters.

Rubio's position aligns with the principle of non-interference in domestic governance, though it stands in contrast to instances where Western governments have publicly commented on protests and demonstrations in other nations. The remarks suggest the Biden-Harris administration intends to maintain a calibrated approach regarding India-related political developments.