New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): US Ambassador Sergio Gor has confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is officially en route to India for a high-profile diplomatic visit, fresh from attending a crucial NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting and concluding key bilateral security and economic talks in Helsingborg, Sweden, on Friday.

In a post on the social media platform X, Gor shared the update following a direct telephonic communication, expressing substantial enthusiasm regarding the impending high-stakes visit.

'Just got a call from @SecRubio. He's taking off for India right now! Excited for this important trip!' the US Ambassador Sergio Gor, stated.

https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2057848500449091826?s=20

Setting a highly collaborative stage for this key visit, Marco Rubio had earlier on Thursday announced Washington's keenness to significantly scale up energy partnerships with India, declaring that the United States is prepared to supply 'as much energy' as New Delhi is willing to buy.

Interacting with the media in Miami prior to his departure for Sweden and India, Rubio indicated that the US has already initiated high-level talks with Indian authorities to boost energy exports, a development propelled by American oil and gas production hitting historic highs.

The top American diplomat is slated to undertake this official tour of India from May 23 to 26, with a packed itinerary covering Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. The high-level engagements during the visit are anticipated to primarily centre around trade dynamics, energy security, and defence cooperation.

To anchor this economic agenda, Rubio underscored that Washington aims to embed itself more deeply into India's diversified energy matrix, whilst hinting at the possibility of collaborative arrangements involving Venezuelan crude provisions. These remarks came directly against the backdrop of queries regarding the economic pressures India navigates due to volatile global fuel pricing and maritime logistical vulnerabilities stemming from recent instabilities surrounding the Strait of Hormuz.

Characterising the relationship between the two democracies as robust under these testing global conditions, the US Secretary of State described India as a 'great partner' and stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral ties across multiple sectors. Furthermore, Rubio affirmed his scheduled attendance at the forthcoming Quad foreign ministers' meeting, which will be hosted in New Delhi as part of his diplomatic itinerary.

In a major diplomatic deployment matching this regional focus, India is gearing up to host the foreign ministers of the Quad nations in the national capital to deliberate on the evolving security matrix of the Indo-Pacific and the escalating friction points across West Asia. The high-level congregation of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue--bringing together India, the United States, Australia, and Japan--is locked in for May 26 under the chairmanship of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Official communications from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the strategic huddle will see the participation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Alongside the core plurilateral talks, the visiting dignitaries are slated to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and engage in structured, one-on-one bilateral sessions with Jaishankar.

'In keeping with the Quad vision for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, the ministers will build on discussions held in Washington DC on July 1, 2025,' the MEA said.

The upcoming discussions are poised to deepen operational synergies among the partner democracies, as New Delhi steers the grouping's agenda as the rotational chair.

'They will exchange views on advancing Quad cooperation across priority areas, review progress on ongoing Quad initiatives, and reflect on recent developments in the Indo-Pacific region and other international issues of mutual concern,' the statement added.

The alliance has steadily consolidated its position as a cornerstone strategic bloc committed to safeguarding freedom of navigation, regional stability, and peace across critical maritime corridors. This momentum follows the landmark 2024 Wilmington summit in the US, where top leaders unveiled expansive frameworks to boost maritime security monitoring.

Ultimately, this ministerial interaction will serve as a critical stepping stone to structure the policy framework for the upcoming full-scale Quad Leaders' Summit, which India is expected to host later this year. (ANI)