Rubio Begins India Visit as Trade Talks Near Decision

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a three-day visit to India on Tuesday, October 20, with talks on bilateral cooperation and a proposed trade deal on the agenda. His meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Mumbai, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The ministry said discussions were expected to cover energy, trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, and other areas of mutual interest. The officials were also expected to discuss the situation in West Asia and ways to strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The proposed trade pact is a central issue in the visit, but no completed agreement was reported. Speaking in Uzbekistan before travelling to India, Rubio said the two countries were “very close” to finalising a deal. He also said the negotiations were among considerations in presidential decisions about national-security waivers. Rubio’s remarks suggested a connection between the trade talks and a U.S. waiver related to Russian-oil purchases. The account did not specify the waiver’s terms or establish a formal condition linking it to the trade...