On a visit to India, US Secy of State Marco Rubio has said that the much awaited India-US trade deal is now "incredibly close".
"We are weeks from finalising it .... 99 per cent of the work is done," he said in an interview to 'The Indian Express'.
Talking to Network18 TV channel, he said: "It's incredibly close ... I think we're down to some technical details that have to be worked out. Technical details matter because there has to be agreement. Both sides have to agree that the language means the same thing.
So it's down to that level".
US Secretary of State, who is on a two-day visit, said on Tuesday that he discussed energy security and defence cooperation with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar during their meeting in Mumbai.
Both the leaders reaffirmed the importance of the US-India strategic partnership.
Sharing details of the meeting on X, Rubio wrote, "In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defence cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the US-India strategic partnership."
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also commented on the meeting in a post on X, saying,
"Productive discussions between Secretary Rubio and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on deepening US-India cooperation across defence, energy, emerging technologies, and trade, as we continue to build the unrivalled momentum in our bilateral partnership."
In interview with 'Indian Express', he was asked whether US-Pak ties are now inching much close as 'return to the Nixon-Kissinger era'; Rubio said:
"Well, I would not use the 1970s as an example because the world looks nothing like it did back then. Back then, we had the Cold War and all sorts of other dynamics that no longer exist.
Number two, I would say that our relationship with no country in the world, in any way, comes at the expense of our relationship with India. I hope my visits here, our commitment to doing the trade deal, all of the engagements that we have done, all the work that we do together, is evidence of that….
"Pakistan is a country we have a relationship with, and we need to have a relationship with. And, in some ways, it could be a positive thing if we could help discourage actions that could potentially lead to conflict, if we could use our influence in ways that are positive…"
However, he stressed that : "... what everyone should be assured of in India is that our relationship, not just with Pakistan but with any country in the world, will never come at the expense of our relationship.
We don’t view it that way in our relationship with India." This is certainly aimed at Trump's appeasement move towards New Delhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Post-Operation Sindoor; Trump thought of playing mind game with India and went out of the way to befriend Pakistan and even glorified a 'defeated and humbled' army chief. Trump on numerous occasions claimed he brokered peace between India and Pakistan and such a statement gave room to Modi's opponents to coin slogan 'Narender Surrender'. India kept on denying the US role in brokering the peace and Dr Jaishankar even at one instance said - "US was in the US" .. when India agreed to suspend Operation Sindoor and agreed for a mutual ceasefire.
Rubio on better tariff rates for India
Asked whether India could expect more favourable tariff rates than other countries, Rubio said the objective of a trade agreement was to secure better terms than those currently in place.
"Obviously, the purpose of making a deal is to have better rates than what you have now," he said.
He emphasised that the agreement must serve the economic interests of both countries to remain sustainable over the longer term.
Rubio said Washington recognised that New Delhi, like every other country, would pursue its national interests during negotiations.
"When you are friends, when you are allies, and when you have so much in common, that's what allows you to bridge those differences and come up with something that's mutually beneficial," he said.
ends
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