Marco Rubio arrives in Kolkata, marking key moment in India–US Relations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning with his wife Jeanette Rubio, beginning a significant India visit that places both diplomacy and shared humanitarian values in focus.

He was received at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, in what is being viewed as another important moment in the evolving India–US relationship. Shortly after landing, Rubio and Gor visited the Missionaries of Charity headquarters in Kolkata, adding a symbolic and emotional layer to the diplomatic trip. Reflecting on the visit, Gor said moments like these highlight how the partnership between India and the United States is rooted not only in strategic cooperation, but also in “shared values and the spirit of selfless service that transcends borders.” Rubio’s Kolkata stop is notable as it marks the first visit by a US Secretary of State to the city in more than a decade. The visit comes at a time when India and the United States are strengthening cooperation across defence, trade, technology and Indo-Pacific strategy.