Kolkata: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, marking the start of a four-day diplomatic mission to India. The visit underscores the strengthening of ties between the two nations, as Rubio aims to address several key areas of cooperation.

According to Anadolu Agency, prior to his departure, Rubio characterized the trip as 'important,' emphasizing the breadth of collaboration between the US and India. "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," he stated.

Further details were shared by Washington's Ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gor, who announced on US social media platform X that Rubio touched down early Saturday. He noted, "This is his first trip to India," and highlighted the agenda's focus on trade, technology, defense, and the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), among other topics.

Following his engagements in Kolkata, Rubio is expected to travel to New Delhi to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, scheduled discussions with his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, are set for Sunday. Rubio will also attend the Quad foreign ministers meeting, hosted by India on Tuesday.

The itinerary includes visits to other Indian cities, such as Agra and Jaipur, as part of the diplomatic tour. A US State Department statement preceding the visit highlighted that discussions will center on "energy security, trade, and defense cooperation during meetings with senior Indian officials."