What Marco Rubio’s sidestepping of New Delhi says about the US’s stance on India

Rubio’s decision not to meet Narendra Modi last week was seen by some as a snub – but by focusing on business leaders and oil, the secretary of state made American priorities clear. Plus: the artist bringing a female perspective to men’s clothing

When the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio , visited India for the second time this year, headlines concentrated on who he met and where he went.

The fact that Rubio bypassed New Delhi and did not meet the prime minister, Narendra Modi, during his trip last week, and instead traveled to the financial capital, Mumbai, where he met India’s foreign minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (pictured top with Rubio), and business leaders, did not go unnoticed. Nor did his decision to travel to Jamnagar, the small Gujarati town that is home to Reliance Industries’ colossal oil refinery complex.

Bilateral ties between the two countries have come under strain under the second Trump administration, particularly over tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil. Yet, Rubio’s return to India just five months after his first visit as secretary of state signals that the country remains useful for president Donald Trump’s ambitions after all.