Rubio to Meet Jaishankar in Mumbai as Venue Draws Opposition Fire
Image: US Department of State / Wikimedia Commons
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai this week, as part of a trip to Uzbekistan and India from October 17 to 22, the US State Department said. Rubio is travelling to Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Mumbai and Jamnagar in Gujarat. He is expected to arrive from Samarkand on Sunday, meet Jaishankar in Mumbai on Monday and then visit an oil refinery in Jamnagar, Al Jazeera reported.
Row Over the Venue
The decision to hold the talks in Mumbai rather than New Delhi has drawn criticism from the Opposition. Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that Rubio was skipping Delhi and had “summoned” Jaishankar to Mumbai, calling it a “new low”, ANI reported. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also mocked the government over the visit, saying its officials were “confused”, ETV Bharat reported.
Al Jazeera reported that the US ambassador to India had said Washington expected Jaishankar to travel to meet Rubio. The government has not publicly responded to the criticism in the reports reviewed by IPB.
Why the Talks Matter
The visit comes days after President Donald Trump paused Russia-linked tariffs of up to 100 per cent that could have hit Indian goods. Trade, tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian energy are expected to dominate the talks.
For Indian exporters, workers in export industries and families who depend on the US job market, the tone of the Mumbai meeting will signal whether relief on tariffs is likely to last. The Jamnagar leg also points to energy as a central part of the visit.
What Comes Next
Any joint statement or briefing after Monday’s meeting should show whether the two sides have agreed on next steps on trade and energy. More in IPB’s Daily Updates.
Based on the US State Department and reporting by Al Jazeera, ANI and ETV Bharat.
Image: US Department of State / Wikimedia Commons.
