US Secretary of State Rubio meets Jaishankar, honours 26/11 victims

Marco Rubio arrived in Mumbai for a high-level engagement with India's foreign affairs leadership, marking his first visit to the country in his current capacity. The US Secretary of State met with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss bilateral ties and regional cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.

During the visit, Rubio paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks that claimed over 160 lives across Mumbai in November 2008. The gesture underscored the United States' solidarity with India in counterterrorism efforts and its recognition of the profound impact of the attacks on the nation.

The bilateral meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar is expected to cover key areas of strategic cooperation, including defence partnerships, trade relations, and regional security concerns. The engagement reflects the strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations and their shared interests in maintaining stability in South and Southeast Asia.

Rubio's visit comes at a time of heightened focus on US-India relations under the new American administration. The discussions are likely to address contemporary geopolitical challenges and opportunities for deeper collaboration between the world's largest and most populous democracies.