Marco Rubio On Donald Trump’s Visit To India, Trade Talks And Bilateral Ties

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said that President Donald Trump is likely to visit India early next year, underscoring the strong personal rapport between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and describing India-US ties as "fantastic". Speaking to news agency IANS in Washington DC, Rubio said he expects to travel to India before the end of the year to finalise preparations for the presidential visit. "We're hoping that's what we're working towards - sometime early next year to have the President come. I think it's very positive. India is such a close partner and ally of the United States, and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldn't be closer, which I think is really important in diplomacy,” Rubio said. If the visit takes place, it will mark Trump's first trip to India since February 2020 and his first since returning to the White House for a second term. Trump and PM Modi last met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, in what was their first bilateral meeting in 16 months.