The flights from Washington took 12 hours, landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 2:45 pm on Tuesday. Jaishankar met Rubio immediately, and the two leaders dived into the core of the India‑US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, with a sharp focus on a pending trade agreement.
—A short pause, then a wreath was laid at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, honoring the victims of the 26/11 terror attack that claimed more than 160 lives, six of whom were American citizens.
The meeting’s agenda stretched beyond trade; energy security, defense cooperation, and emerging technologies were all on the table. Jaishankar said the two sides were "near a landing point" on the trade pact, a sentiment echoed by Rubio during a press briefing in Uzbekistan.
—Rubio also confirmed that the US had recently waived tariffs on Russian oil purchases, a move tied to the broader trade negotiations with India.
Jamnar in Gujarat is on the itinerary for Wednesday, where Rubio is slated to meet industry leaders and discuss the next steps for the trade deal. Analysts say the agreement could be inked by Friday, a move that would lift the current tariff impasse.
The visit comes after a year of strained ties marked by punitive tariffs and visa policy changes. Yet both sides are eager to restore high‑level engagement and secure mutual economic gains. The final signing of the trade pact would mark a turning point in Indo‑US relations, signalling a new era of cooperation.