The United States is working to arrange a visit by President Donald Trump to India early next year as both countries move closer to finalising a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
In an interview with Indian news agency IANS, Rubio said preparations for the visit were already underway and that he was expected to travel to India later this year to help coordinate the president’s trip.
“We’re working towards sometime early next year to have the president come,” Rubio said, adding that negotiations on the trade agreement were in their final stages. “We’re on the last inches of getting it done and it’s very positive.”
The announcement comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France last week. Trump described the discussions as “very good.”
India has been seeking a Trump visit for several months, possibly alongside a broader meeting involving Japan and Australia.
Relations between Washington and New Delhi have faced challenges over the past year following US tariffs on Indian exports, disagreements over India’s purchase of Russian oil, and growing US engagement with Pakistan. Although Rubio visited India last month to improve ties, recent tensions resurfaced after three Indian sailors were killed during US naval operations targeting commercial shipping in the Gulf.
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