Trump's first India visit since 2020 may happen early next year, says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

Trump's first India visit since 2020 may happen early next year, says US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

US President Donald Trump is likely to visit India early next year, marking his first trip to the country since his high-profile visit in 2020, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.

Speaking in an interview with IANS, Rubio revealed that preparations are already underway for the presidential visit. He added that he expects to return to India before the end of 2026 to help lay the groundwork for Trump's trip. The proposed visit comes amid renewed momentum in India-US ties and ongoing negotiations over a bilateral trade agreement.

"We're working towards sometime early next year to have the President come," Rubio said, adding that both countries are "in the last few inches" of finalising a trade deal. He described the discussions as positive and expressed optimism about strengthening strategic and economic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.

If the visit materialises, it will be Trump's first visit to India since February 2020, when he travelled to Ahmedabad, Agra and New Delhi. The visit featured the "Namaste Trump" event at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, attended by tens of thousands of people, and included bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on defence, trade and regional security.

Rubio's remarks come just weeks after Trump and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. According to US officials, the two leaders discussed a range of issues, including defence cooperation, trade negotiations and the broader India-US strategic partnership.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also underlined the strong personal relationship between Trump and Modi, describing it as a key pillar of bilateral ties. He suggested that several significant announcements could emerge in the coming months as both governments continue to engage on issues of mutual interest.

The proposed visit is expected to provide fresh impetus to India-US relations, particularly as both countries seek to conclude a comprehensive trade agreement. Rubio indicated that negotiations are nearing completion and expressed confidence that the remaining issues could be resolved soon.

Beyond trade, the visit is also expected to reinforce cooperation in defence, technology, energy and the Indo-Pacific region. India and the United States have increasingly deepened collaboration through forums such as the Quad, alongside expanding partnerships in emerging technologies and critical supply chains.

While no official dates have been announced, Rubio's comments signal that both governments are actively planning for another high-level engagement between Trump and Modi, with the potential visit expected to be one of the most significant diplomatic events in India-US relations next year.