US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a joint press conference in New Delhi on Sunday, emphasizing the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States. They addressed questions concerning immigration reforms and visa issues.
Speaking at Hyderabad House following delegation-level discussions, Rubio noted that the relationship between the two democracies has evolved beyond traditional diplomatic ties. “A strategic partnership is when your interests as two nations are aligned, and you work together strategically to solve those problems,” he remarked. He underscored that India is one of the most important strategic partners for the US worldwide, highlighting the vast array of issues they collaboratively tackle, which spans defense, trade, energy, technology, and counterterrorism.
The press conference followed Rubio’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his four-day visit to India. He described his initial experiences in India as “fantastic” and reiterated that India and the US are not just allies, but strategic allies.
Among the senior officials present were Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
Rubio on Visa Changes and Immigration Reforms
Responding to concerns regarding recent changes to J1, F1, and H-1B visa policies, Rubio explained that these reforms are part of a larger overhaul of the US immigration system and are not specific to India. He acknowledged the significant contributions of the Indian populace to the US economy, noting, “Over $20 billion has been invested in the US economy by Indian companies. We want that number to continue to increase.” He emphasized that ongoing modernization efforts in the US immigration system are global in nature and not aimed at India specifically. He pointed out a broader migration crisis in the US, stating, “This is not because of India, but broadly, we have had over 20 million people illegally enter the United States over the last few years.”
Rubio added that the US remains “the most welcoming country in the world on immigration” but recognized that reforms might lead to friction during the transition period.
Rubio on Anti-India Hate and Racist Remarks
When queried about racist comments directed at Indian Americans, Rubio expressed that such remarks would be treated seriously while reiterating that the US is an inclusive country. “Every country has stupid people,” he said, noting that ignorant comments exist everywhere. He highlighted the enrichment that immigrants have brought to the US and referenced his own family’s immigration from Cuba in 1956.
Jaishankar on Defence, Trade, and Energy Cooperation
During the press conference, Jaishankar focused on enhancing defense and economic relations between the two nations. He announced that India and the US had recently renewed their 10-year major defense partnership framework agreement and signed a comprehensive underwater domain awareness roadmap. “We discussed the importance of taking into account the Make in India approach and lessons drawn from recent conflicts while going forward in the defense domain,” he added.
On trade, Jaishankar noted that both sides are working toward an early conclusion of an interim trade agreement, which could serve as a precursor to a broader bilateral deal initially proposed during PM Modi’s US visit in February 2025.
