U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor sat down for a wide-ranging interview in Mumbai with India Today that was published Saturday, and they talked about Russian diesel, the future of U.S.-India relations, what it’s like to work for Donald Trump, and many other challenges facing the two countries.
Asked what number between one and 10 he’d choose to describe the state of relations, Rubio said the future is bright:
We have a lot of common interests, and we have a history of working together. And I think India’s progressing so fast on so many areas that are important to the national security and national interest of the United States. It’s a logical partnership.
So, I don’t know about one to 10. I would say it is as strong as it’s ever been, and I think in five years, we’ll look back and say it’s one of the strongest relationships in the world.
Mega India Today Global exclusive: Trump’s inner circle on India Today. Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) and Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) in an exclusive conversation with@RajChengappa on trade deal, oil, war talks and more. #TeamTrumpOnIndiaToday #Promo pic.twitter.com/KI3m2h8xtb
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 23, 2026
He also discussed the trade agreement that President Trump has hinted is imminent.
So, we’re very close, and I can’t foresee anything that will keep us from reaching an agreement, but there’s still some items being discussed. So, I’d prefer not to go into the details of it until it’s all fully worked out. Suffice to say that once this deal is done, it has to be one that’s beneficial to both countries, and that’s what I anticipate it will be.
The conversation touched on numerous topics, but one story that’s dominated the headlines is the deal the president made with Russia to lift sanctions on their diesel exports until April. Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is hostile to the idea, and many Democrats and even some Republicans argue that we’re coddling Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rubio argued that it was the right thing to do for the world:
Right now, you’re looking at the global economy, and all foreign policy has to be balanced holistically. You can’t look at everything through the lens of just one country or one conflict.
And while we remain very concerned and are doing all we can to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, we also recognise the impact that war is having on the global economy, in addition to what we’ve seen in the Strait of Hormuz and now, increasingly, the Red Sea.
And so I think the President made a very wise decision, which is to, for a short period of time, allow additional energy flows into the global marketplace, and not just to benefit us.
#Exclusive | Speaking on Russia-Ukraine war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "this war is not going to be solved militarily; this war is going to be solved diplomatically."
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 22, 2026
Watch the full interview tonight at 8, only on India Today TV#Russia #Ukraine #MarcoRubio… pic.twitter.com/DpK6xOPNLI
The interview was conducted in the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, which was one of the targets of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks that killed 175 people. The carnage was carried out by the Islamist militant group mostly based in Pakistan, Lashkar-e-Taiba ("Army of the Righteous").
The interviewer asked, are America's improving relations with Pakistan a threat to India? Rubio:
So, our relationship with Pakistan is not new. Now, it has just developed in a way that allows us to hopefully have more influence over the decisions they make on a variety of topics.
In no way does the relationship with Pakistan come at the expense of our relationship with India...
In fact, no country in the world does more to go after terrorism than the United States....
I don’t think any country in the world has shown a greater commitment to go after global terrorism than the United States, and that includes many of the same ideologies that threaten India.
Two other segments of the interview stand out: What’s it really like to work for Donald Trump, and does Rubio have presidential ambitions in 2028?
SECRETARY RUBIO on PRESIDENT TRUMP: He's visionary. He imagines what people say is impossible. He thinks things that people say, "well, we can't do it because that's never been done before." And then he achieves them. pic.twitter.com/izH9zEwAkZ
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 24, 2026
Well, he’s a historic figure. There’s no doubt about it.
He is not an orthodox political figure. He is not a politician at all...
He’s a visionary. He imagines what people will say is impossible. He thinks things that people say, “Well, we can’t do it because that’s never been done before...”
So, I think for those of us who work for him and with him, it gives us energy to know that we have the ability to do things that you would not be able to do under someone who came from a traditional political background.
And in the case of foreign policy and in the world, and in the realm of global affairs, it’s a very exciting time to be doing it.
But is Rubio going to make a run for the Oval Office himself? As usual, he didn’t fall for it:
I am plenty focused. I have two jobs right now and they both take up all my time and energy, and I’m very happy doing those jobs.
You can watch more of Rubio’s India visit and interview below:
