India and US Push for Early Trade Deal as Rubio Visits Mumbai

India and the United States have welcomed the progress made in negotiations on the Bilateral Trade Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to working towards its early conclusion, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.

The two sides reviewed the full range of bilateral ties and discussed ways to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Mumbai, the ministry added.

In a statement, the MEA said both sides held a detailed exchange of views on trade, defence, technology and energy security, welcomed the progress in the BTA negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to an early conclusion. They also exchanged views on regional and global developments.

Rubio is visiting India from October 20 to 21 at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. This is his second trip to India after his visit to New Delhi in May.

Jaishankar also attended the US "Freedom 250" reception hosted by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor as the Chief Guest. The MEA said the visit reflected the sustained momentum of high-level exchanges between the two countries and underscored the importance both sides attach to further advancing the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century.

The two ministers met in Mumbai on Tuesday, with discussions focused on further advancing bilateral ties and an exchange of views on regional developments. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Ambassador Gor and other officials were present.

"Pleased to meet US Marco Rubio in Mumbai today. We shared views on further advancement of our ties, focusing on trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties. Also exchanged views on regional developments," Jaishankar said on X after the meeting.

Rubio said he and Jaishankar discussed energy security and defence cooperation. "In Mumbai, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and I discussed energy security and defence cooperation while reaffirming the importance of advancing the US-India strategic partnership," the US Secretary of State posted on X.

The Mumbai leg adds a business and commercial dimension to the diplomacy, with the trade agreement now the clearest marker of how quickly the two sides want to convert their strategic convergence into economic deliverables.

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