'Relations With Any Country Not At Expense Of Alliance With India': Rubio On US-Pakistan Ties

Last Updated:May 24, 2026, 14:00 IST

Marco Rubio said America’s relations with Pakistan do not come at the expense of its “strategic alliance” with India, while declining to comment on military-related questions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday sought to distinguish between Washington’s engagement with Pakistan and its strategic partnership with India, saying America’s relations with any country do not come at the expense of its alliance with New Delhi.

His remarks came during a joint media briefing with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar following high-level talks in New Delhi.

Rubio was responding to a question on US-Pakistan relations and allegations linked to military support for terrorist groups.

While declining to directly address military matters, he underlined that countries routinely maintain tactical-level engagements with multiple nations.

“We have relations, and we work at the tactical level, for example, and in many other ways with countries all over the world. So does India. That’s what the responsible nation-states do," Rubio said.

He added, “But I don’t view our relation with any country in the world as coming at the expense of our strategic alliance with India for the reasons I’ve outlined here already earlier today."

Rubio also indicated he would not delve into military-related aspects raised in the question.

“That was a long question and said a lot of things I don’t agree with, and I’m not going to speak to the military," he said.

INDIA-US RELATIONS WOULD BE MUCH STRONGER 

During the briefing, Rubio repeatedly stressed the strength and continuity of India-US ties, rejecting suggestions that the relationship required revival or resetting.

Rubio said relations between the two countries “have not lost momentum", but would emerge “much stronger in the coming years."

He also expressed optimism over a long-pending bilateral trade agreement, saying Washington hoped the deal would be concluded soon.

Rubio further noted that India and the United States remain “strategically aligned" on nearly all major global issues.

Rubio also described India as one of America’s most significant strategic partners worldwide.

Speaking at the joint press conference, he said the relationship extended beyond traditional diplomacy and was rooted in deep alignment of interests.

“A strategic partnership is when your interests as two nations are aligned, and you work together strategically to solve those problems," Rubio said.

Highlighting the scale of cooperation between the two democracies, he added, “The list of issues that we work together with India on, the breadth of scope of them, is what highlights the fact that India is an important strategic partner in the United States, one of our most important strategic partners in the world."

COUNTERTERRORISM, INDO-PACIFIC AND TRADE IN FOCUS

Rubio also spoke extensively about counterterrorism cooperation between New Delhi and Washington, saying both nations had experienced the effects of global terror networks.

“On the issue of terrorism, both of our countries have suffered, both directly and indirectly, because of global terrorist networks. There was a strong counterterrorism alignment as a result of that," he said.

The US Secretary of State further pointed to shared positions on emerging technologies and global trade routes, saying both countries were working together to address opportunities and risks arising in the 21st century.

He also highlighted cooperation on maintaining secure international commerce and ensuring a “free and open Indo-Pacific."

“Likewise, on the unimpeded flow of commerce, especially in international airspace and international waters, this is true in the Indo-Pacific," Rubio said.

Jaishankar, meanwhile, said discussions between the two sides covered the situation in West Asia, the Indian subcontinent and East Asia.

He reiterated India’s support for “unimpeded" maritime commerce.

The External Affairs Minister also said he and Rubio discussed civil nuclear cooperation and recent developments in the energy partnership between the two countries.

RUBIO CALLS INDIA-US PARTNERSHIP ONE OF WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT

Rubio, who arrived in New Delhi on Saturday, also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the visit.

He described the ongoing engagement as part of efforts to “continue building" an already strong partnership rather than restoring ties.

“It has already been a fantastic first day," Rubio said, while describing India and the United States as “strategic allies."

He further emphasised that cooperation between the two countries was not confined to a single geography and could extend globally.

“This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership. One of the most important ones that we have, and one of the most important ones in the world," Rubio said.

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