India US Relations After China Summit Rubio Modi Meeting Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, paying tribute at Mother Teresa's tomb during his first official trip to India.

US Secretary of State Meets Modi in New Delhi Amid Shifting Asian Alliances

How India and US Relations After China Summit Are Taking a New Turn

By Desk Assistant Last updated May 23, 2026

US & India – (Web Desk) – Marco Rubio’s visit to India signals a fresh push to strengthen India and US relations after China summit talks just one week earlier. The US Secretary of State met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi for over an hour, aiming to reassure one of America’s closest Asian partners.

Before reaching New Delhi, Rubio made a deeply personal visit to Kolkata. He toured the headquarters of Mother Teresa’s charity, the Missionaries of Charity, and prayed at her tomb. Wearing a traditional yellow garland, he stood alongside his wife Jeanette before a gathering of nuns in their iconic white and blue saris.

Happy to receive the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio.

We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security.

India and the United States will continue to work closely for… pic.twitter.com/CuD0DdDXB7

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2026

Sister Marie Juan shared that Rubio spoke warmly about helping the homeless, the terminally ill, and those suffering from leprosy. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor later noted that the visit reflected a bond built not just on policy, but on shared human values.

During his four-day trip, Rubio will join foreign ministers from Australia, India, Japan, and the United States for a Quad meeting. The group is widely seen as a democratic counterweight to China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean. China has always viewed the Quad with suspicion, calling it an attempt to surround it.

Rubio described India as a “great ally and great partner.” He said Washington wants to help India secure more American oil — a timely offer given that global energy prices have surged after the US-Israeli strike on Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mother Teresa left a tremendous legacy of compassion and service. I was honored to visit the Missionaries of Charity today to pay homage to her legacy and to see the living example of the Catholic faith in action. pic.twitter.com/HCiATKgUDc

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) May 23, 2026

India relies heavily on energy imports, and the conflict has complicated its delicate balance between ties with Iran and its growing friendship with Israel.

The regional conflict has also pushed Pakistan back into the spotlight as a US partner. Pakistan has positioned itself as a peace mediator and its army chief recently traveled to Tehran. Trump has warmed to Pakistan, which praised his role in ending last year’s brief India-Pakistan war.

However, Modi did not publicly credit Trump for ending that conflict, which led to punishing US tariffs on India — rates actually higher than those placed on China. A trade deal later softened those measures.

Rubio’s decision to begin his trip at a Christian charity was also seen as symbolic. Some voices within Trump’s base have raised concerns about the safety of Christians in India under the Hindu nationalist government. Rights groups report a rise in church attacks since 2014, though the Indian government firmly rejects those claims.