Trump's India Visit Under Preparation as US Nears Trade Deal, Says Marco Rubio

Speaking to IANS, Rubio said both nations are moving closer to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement and expressed confidence that negotiations have reached their final stage. He stated that the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump during the G7 Summit was highly productive and added that both sides are optimistic about concluding the trade deal soon.

Rubio said the United States is "in the last few inches" of completing the trade agreement and described the progress as extremely positive. He also said both countries are looking forward to holding another meeting of the Quad grouping in the near future. In addition, Rubio confirmed that he plans to visit India before the end of 2026 to help prepare for President Trump's official visit during the early part of next year.

If the visit takes place as planned, it will mark President Trump's first visit to India since his 2020 tour of New Delhi, Agra and Ahmedabad. During that visit, President Trump participated in the "Namaste Trump" event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, where more than 100,000 people attended the public gathering.

United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also referred to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump in France, stating that the two leaders discussed several important issues, including defence cooperation. He said multiple significant announcements are expected in the coming months following those discussions.

Gor emphasised that the relationship between the two countries continues to be anchored by the strong personal bond between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. He said their friendship has remained consistent over the years despite public speculation and noted that every interaction between the two leaders has produced positive outcomes. According to Gor, since assuming his responsibilities in India, his priority has been to ensure regular engagement between both governments, advance bilateral relations, and identify mutually beneficial opportunities for India and the United States.

The planned presidential visit, the anticipated trade agreement, continued engagement through the Quad, and expanding defence cooperation collectively underscore the growing strategic partnership between India and the United States, with both governments signalling their commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors in the months ahead.