U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Trump administration is working towards President Donald Trump’s visit to India in the early part of next year, underscoring the growing momentum in India-U.S. ties as the two countries move closer to concluding a bilateral trade agreement.

In an exclusive interview with IANS at the White House, Mr. Rubio said he expected to travel to India before the end of the year to prepare for the President’s visit.

“I look forward to returning myself before the end of the year and setting up a Presidential visit in the early parts of next year,” Mr. Rubio said.

Asked if Mr. Trump’s visit could take place next year, Mr. Rubio replied: “We’re hoping. That’s what we’re working towards sometime early next year to have the President come.”

Mr. Rubio said the India-U.S. relationship was in a strong position following the recent meeting between Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.

“I think it’s going fantastic. I mean, it’s very strong,” he said. “We had a great meeting with the Prime Minister. The President did at the G7.”

The Secretary of State also expressed optimism about the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries.

“We’re hoping to finalise a trade deal. We’re on the last inches of getting it done, and it’s very positive,” he said.

Mr. Rubio said Washington was also looking forward to another meeting of the Quad leaders in the near future.

“We look forward to re-engaging again in another Quad meeting very soon,” he said.

Describing India as one of America’s closest partners, Mr. Rubio said: “India is such a close partner and ally of the United States, and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldn’t be closer, which I think is really important in diplomacy.”

President Trump last visited India in February 2020, when he and Prime Minister Modi addressed the “Namaste Trump” rally in Ahmedabad before holding bilateral talks in New Delhi.

Since returning to office, Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi have maintained regular engagement as both governments seek to deepen cooperation across trade, defence, technology and the Indo-Pacific.

The United States and India are also key partners in the Quad, alongside Japan and Australia, with the four nations expanding cooperation on regional security, critical technologies, resilient supply chains and maritime security. Both Washington and New Delhi have described their partnership as one of the defining strategic relationships of the 21st century.

PM Modi leading India’s global rise: Rubio

Mr. Rubio praised Mr. Modi’s leadership, saying he has steered India through remarkable economic progress and helped position the country as an increasingly influential global power.

Mr. Rubio said the Trump administration held PM Modi in high regard and viewed India as one of America’s closest strategic partners. “We are enormous fans of Prime Minister Modi and what he’s done,” Mr. Rubio said.

“He leads a country that’s making incredible gains economically and is really coming into its own as a global power, a country that’s increasingly accounted for on decisions being made on the global stage.”

Mr. Rubio said India’s growing global influence had further strengthened the partnership between New Delhi and Washington.

“India is such a close partner and ally of the United States, and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldn’t be closer, which I think is really important in diplomacy,” he said.

The Secretary of State said the shared values and interests of the two democracies provided a strong foundation for expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.

“These are the largest democracies in the world and the oldest democracy in the world,” Mr. Rubio said. “I think we have so much aligned and in common that we can build and work on together.”

He identified economics, supply chains, critical minerals, energy, security and freedom of navigation as areas where the two countries were deepening cooperation.

“These are all issues that bind us together. We’re aligned on so many things,” Mr. Rubio said.

He also highlighted the contribution of the Indian-American community to the relationship. “You have a very strong Indian American community as well, which is an additional link between our countries,” he said.

When told that he was popular among Indian Americans, Mr. Rubio responded: “Oh, good. I’m glad to hear that. I appreciate that very much. It’s a community that’s enriched our country in many ways.”

India and the United States have significantly expanded their strategic partnership over the past two decades, with cooperation extending from defence and trade to critical technologies, energy and the Indo-Pacific. Successive governments in the U.S. have described the relationship as one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.