US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the United States is looking forward to celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence alongside India, underlining the growing strategic and diplomatic ties between the two democracies.
In a video message released ahead of his upcoming India visit, Rubio described India as an important partner for the United States and highlighted the shared democratic values between the two nations.
“As America gets ready to celebrate our 250th birthday, we look forward to doing it with our partners in India. India is the world’s largest democracy and we are the world’s oldest democracy. We look forward to celebrating it together,” Rubio said.
The message was later shared by the Embassy of the United States, New Delhi on social media platform X, where the embassy welcomed Rubio’s upcoming visit.
Rubio to visit four Indian cities
Rubio is scheduled to visit India from May 23 to 26, with stops planned in New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Kolkata. His visit comes at a time when India and the United States are expanding cooperation across defence, trade, technology and regional security.
According to the US State Department, Rubio will first travel to Sweden to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting before arriving in India later this week.
The State Department said discussions during the India visit are expected to focus on energy security, defence cooperation and trade ties, along with broader geopolitical developments in the Indo-Pacific and West Asia.
Quad meeting expected to be key focus
Apart from bilateral meetings with senior Indian leaders in New Delhi, Rubio is also expected to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
The Quad grouping has increasingly focused on issues related to maritime security, regional stability, supply chains and strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region amid rising concerns over China’s growing influence.
Officials from both sides are expected to review progress in strategic cooperation and discuss ways to strengthen coordination on regional and global challenges.
India-US ties continue to deepen
Rubio’s visit follows recent high-level engagement between New Delhi and Washington. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation during which they discussed bilateral cooperation and the security situation in West Asia.
After the call, Modi said both countries remained committed to strengthening their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership across sectors.
The leaders also discussed the importance of ensuring stability in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy route that has remained sensitive amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
US prepares for 250th Independence anniversary
The United States will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 next year. The occasion is expected to feature major diplomatic and cultural outreach initiatives involving partner countries, including India.
Rubio’s remarks are being seen as part of broader efforts by Washington to reinforce ties with New Delhi at a time of shifting global alliances and growing strategic cooperation between the two nations.
(With inputs from IANS)