U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington and New Delhi share a commitment to open Indo-Pacific shipping lanes, tying access to exporters’ ability to reach overseas markets.
At a reception in Mumbai, Rubio said no nation should claim ownership of international shipping routes or assert dominance over them. He described the United States and India as “100% and perfectly aligned” on that issue, while acknowledging disagreements on other matters.
Rubio called the countries’ alignment on core national interests “extraordinary.” Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said both governments share an interest in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. He identified trade, investment, technology and energy as areas for further cooperation.
The State Department said Rubio argued during talks with Jaishankar that increased energy trade could diversify India’s supply chains. It said Rubio also advocated greater Indian purchases of U.S. technologies and systems.
Earlier Tuesday, Rubio said negotiators had a few issues left to resolve on a trade agreement that remains unsigned. He gave no signing date.
