By Shishir Prashant 
PraashantNews
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in New Delhi on Saturday on a crucial four-day visit aimed at resetting and strengthening ties between New Delhi and Washington amid growing geopolitical and economic challenges in the wake of the Iran conflict.
Media reports claimed that India and US can hold talks on issues pertaining to energy after the closure of Hormuz by Iran which has created the biggest oil crisis in recent times. India with a huge population of more than 1.4 billion fulfils its 80 percent of the oil needs from abroad.
Rubio’s maiden visit to India comes at a time when bilateral relations have faced strain over trade disputes, tariff issues and Washington’s renewed engagement with China and Pakistan.
Rubio began his India tour with a stop in Kolkata, where he visited the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. He later travelled to New Delhi for high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
According to US officials, the talks are expected to focus on trade, defence cooperation, energy security, technology sharing and the Indo-Pacific strategy. The visit is also being viewed as part of Washington’s broader attempt to reinforce the strategic partnership with India amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and concerns over China’s growing influence.
Rubio’s trip assumes importance as it comes at a time when New Delhi is hosting the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on May 26. Foreign ministers from India, the US, Japan and Australia are expected to discuss regional security, maritime cooperation and efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. China has often criticised the Quad grouping as an attempt to contain Beijing’s rise.
Analysts believe Washington is keen to repair ties with New Delhi after friction caused by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies on Indian exports. Although some tariffs were later eased, trade negotiations between the two countries remain incomplete. Rubio’s visit is therefore being seen as an effort to revive trust and push forward pending economic agreements.
Rubio is also scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur during his stay in India. Besides official engagements, he will participate in events marking the 250th anniversary celebrations of American independence at the US Embassy in New Delhi.