Rubio arrives in India ahead of Quad talks as US tries to reset strained ties

Rubio arrives in India ahead of Quad talks as US tries to reset strained ties 1 of 7 | U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan - members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad. 2 of 7 | Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 3 of 7 | Sisters of Nirmala Shishu Bhavan children’s home of the Missionaries of Charity wave at the cavalcade of Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his visit, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 4 of 7 | People wait by the side of the road to watch the cavalcade of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pass in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 5 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane with his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 6 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 7 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, looks on after disembarking his plane as the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, greets his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 1 of 7 U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan - members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 7 | Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 2 of 7 Secretary of State Marco Rubio boards his plane at Malmo Airport, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Malmo-Sturup, Sweden. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 7 | Sisters of Nirmala Shishu Bhavan children’s home of the Missionaries of Charity wave at the cavalcade of Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his visit, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 3 of 7 Sisters of Nirmala Shishu Bhavan children’s home of the Missionaries of Charity wave at the cavalcade of Secretary of State Marco Rubio after his visit, in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 7 | People wait by the side of the road to watch the cavalcade of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pass in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 4 of 7 People wait by the side of the road to watch the cavalcade of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio pass in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane with his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 5 of 7 United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane with his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 6 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 6 of 7 United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio disembarks his plane at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 7 of 7 | United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, looks on after disembarking his plane as the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, greets his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) 7 of 7 United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, looks on after disembarking his plane as the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, greets his wife Jeanette at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Pool) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share NEW DELHI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad.Rubio’s first official trip to India comes as Washington seeks to stabilize relations with New Delhi after ties soured over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which raised duties on several Indian exports.Much of Rubio’s four-day visit, however, will focus on a multi-city tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.Rubio arrived in eastern city of Kolkata early Saturday where he is later scheduled to visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa. In coming days, he will also visit northern cities of Agra and Jaipur, known for iconic monuments and palaces. Sergio Gor, the U.S. ambassador in India, in a social media post said Rubio will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi later Saturday in New Delhi. “Trade, Technology, Defense, Quad, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!” he said. 5 MIN READ 3 MIN READ 1 MIN READ He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday. On Tuesday in New Delhi, Rubio will participate in the ministerial meeting of the Quad that has repeatedly accused China of flexing its military muscles in the South China Sea and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims.Beijing maintains that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are its sovereign rights and calls the Quad an attempt to contain its economic growth and influence.After his inauguration in January last year, Rubio’s first formal international engagement was meeting with the foreign ministers of the other Quad countries, both jointly and in separate sessions.