U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India from May 23–26 to repair relations that have significantly deteriorated over the past year, despite earlier optimism in April 2025.
India's foreign policy establishment is now wary of the United States, a stark contrast to the "mega partnership" rhetoric of the second Trump administration. This decline stems from several factors, including President Trump publicly taking credit for ending the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, his praise for Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir, and a 50 percent import tariff on India (including a 25 percent punitive tariff for Russian oil purchases not applied to China). Furthermore, India questions the U.S. commitment to great power competition with China, evidenced by a cancelled Quad summit and its absence in the U.S. National Security Strategy. The ongoing war in Iran also threatens India's energy-import dependent economy. Rubio's agenda includes Quad meetings and discussions on defense, economics, and technology, aiming to restore the rudderless relationship.
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