The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will hold talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai on October 20.
It is expected that these discussions will cover important aspects of bilateral cooperation, including energy issues, critical energy challenges, as well as regional and global events, according to the MEA.
Furthermore, during his visit to India, Marco Rubio plans to meet with Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), in Jamnagar, Gujarat state.
The American Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, previously stated that Rubio would travel to Jamnagar, home to RIL's world's largest refinery complex, to meet with company representatives. Gor mentioned this at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi.
Jaishankar and Rubio talks to focus on bilateral ties
During a two-week press briefing conducted by MEA representative Randhir Jaiswal, it was announced that Jaishankar would receive the UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister in Mumbai on October 19 and 20. On October 20, he will meet with Rubio and attend the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States as a guest of honor.
Jaiswal noted that this meeting will provide an opportunity to analyze relations between the US and India, as well as discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation and global strategic partnership, allowing both sides to advance common priorities.
He added that the discussions are expected to cover key areas of bilateral interaction, such as energy, critical energy issues, and development at regional and global levels.
Earlier this week, the US Department of State stated that Rubio would meet with high-ranking Indian government officials during his visit from October 17 to 22. These conversations are expected to aim at enhancing energy cooperation and strengthening the partnership between the two nations.
MEA explains the choice of Mumbai for the meeting
When asked why the meeting would take place in Mumbai instead of New Delhi, Jaiswal explained that India has repeatedly hosted foreign dignitaries outside the national capital over the past decade.
He cited examples such as the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Spanish Prime Minister in Vadodara, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad, and the Mauritian Prime Minister in Varanasi. He also mentioned the SCO Foreign Ministers' Summit in Goa, which Jaishankar hosted, and the 'Heart of Asia' conference in Amritsar.