Rubio was received at the airport by Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar, senior state government officials and Mumbai Police personnel. During his visit, he also met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the iconic Gateway of India and paid tribute to the victims of the November 26, 2008, Mumbai terror attacks by laying a wreath at the memorial outside the Taj Hotel.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also welcomed the US Secretary of State. His visit comes as India and the United States continue efforts to deepen their economic and strategic partnership.
According to Rubio’s official itinerary, he was scheduled to meet Gautam Adani at 8.30 am, followed by a meeting with Tata Group CEO N Chandrasekaran at 9 am. Both meetings have been designated as closed-door engagements, with no media access.
Later in the day, at 12.55 pm, Rubio is scheduled to visit Reliance Industries Limited in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The engagement, which includes a tour of the facility, will also remain closed to the media.
The meetings with leaders of some of India’s largest corporate groups are expected to offer an opportunity to discuss business relations and commercial cooperation between the two countries. However, the specific agenda for the meetings has not been publicly disclosed.
Rubio’s visit follows US President Donald Trump’s temporary waiver of certain sanctions, tariffs and restrictions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The broader diplomatic engagement takes place amid ongoing discussions between New Delhi and Washington on trade, energy security, technology and regional stability.
Speaking at the ‘Freedom 250 Reception’ in Mumbai on Tuesday, Rubio described the strategic alignment between India and the United States as “extraordinary”. He said closer cooperation between the two countries could help shape the direction of the 21st century.
Acknowledging that the two nations might not always share the same position on every issue, Rubio stressed that their common interests could have a lasting impact on geopolitics, economic relations, trade and commerce.
He noted that disagreements between the countries were inevitable but emphasised the strength of their partnership on issues central to their respective national interests.
Highlighting the scale and influence of both nations, Rubio referred to India’s population of nearly 1.5 billion and the United States’ status as the world’s largest economy. He said the two countries had a unique opportunity to collaborate on issues that would influence the global future.
Rubio’s visit forms part of his October 17–21 tour of Uzbekistan and India. His scheduled engagement with Reliance Industries in Jamnagar is expected to precede the conclusion of the India leg of his trip.
