(Picture shared by PM Modi on X)

New Delhi: US Secretary of State marco rubio Talked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday on deepening India-US strategic ties in defence, trade, technology and the Indo-Pacific region.Sharing details of the meeting, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore wrote on Twitter, “It was great to join Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a fruitful discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation in security, trade, and critical technologies – areas that strengthen both our countries and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner for the United States!”Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India, is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday and attend the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday.During this time, PM Modi “Delighted to welcome US Secretary of State Mr. Marco Rubio. We discussed the continued progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work together for global good,” a post on X said. The US Secretary of State met PM Modi hours after his arrival in Kolkata, the first visit by a US Secretary of State to the city in more than a decade. Rubio was accompanied on the trip by his wife, Jeanette D. Rubio.Rubio and Janet de Rubio, along with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore, visited the Mother Teresa House of the Missionaries of Charity shortly after landing in Kolkata, adding a humanitarian and symbolic dimension to the diplomatic visit.Reflecting on the visit, Gore 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 a spirit of selfless service beyond borders.”Before departing for India on Thursday, Rubio described India as a “great partner” and said Washington wanted to expand energy ties with New Delhi.Speaking to reporters in Miami before leaving for Sweden and India, Rubio said the United States is ready to increase energy exports to India.“Well, we want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy. And obviously, you’ve seen, I think we’re at historic levels of American production and American exports,” Rubio told reporters.Rubio said the India visit will be important for strengthening bilateral cooperation and will also include meetings with ministers of the Quad countries.Rubio said, “He’s a great ally, a great partner. We work great with him. And so this is an important visit. I’m glad we’re able to do that because I think we’ll have a lot to talk about.”“We will also be meeting there with the Quad, which is important. I think my first meeting as Secretary of State was with the Quad. I am happy that we have been able to do it in India now and we are going to do that at the end of the year as well,” he said.Rubio’s visit to India comes at a time when New Delhi and Washington are expanding cooperation in key areas in the Indo-Pacific, including defence, trade, emerging technologies and regional security.