U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington and underscored the importance of bilateral ties despite recent tensions and warmer U.S. engagement with China.
After joining President Donald Trump in Beijing a week ago, Rubio, visiting both Asian powers for the first time, flew to New Delhi and met Modi for more than an hour, inviting the premier to visit the White House soon.
Cutting the ribbon afterwards on a new wing to the U.S. embassy, Rubio said the building was a "sign of our commitment to this important relationship".
"This important relationship between our two countries is at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific," Rubio said.
In a statement after the talk with Modi, State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said U.S.-India ties were "rooted in our shared democratic values" as well as economic opportunity.
