Secretary of State Marco Rubio with Rahul Joshi of News18

QUESTION:  Secretary Rubio, thank you so much for giving Network18 this exclusive interview, and welcome to India.

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Thank you.

QUESTION:  You’ve been a well-wisher of India.  You’re a tall global leader.  This is your second visit in a matter of a few months.  Last time you were in Delhi, you went to Agra, spent some quality time here.  This time you’ve skipped Delhi, you’ve come to Mumbai, and you’re going to Jamnagar.  What is the significance of this visit?  What are you trying to achieve here?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, this is a big country.  It’s an important country.  And I think, like any big country, I say to people, if you want to learn and see what’s happening in the United States, you can’t just go to Washington.  You should probably try to go somewhere in the South, maybe somewhere on the West Coast, and you probably need to get to New York and Chicago.  And so for us, I mean, I don’t pretend that in my time as the Secretary of State I’ll get to see all of India or learn about every region.  But I think it’s important to see a country of this size and magnitude and to learn as much about it as you can. 

Mumbai in particular is the financial heart and soul of the country.  It’s where so many of the companies that are investing in and with the United States – and who we want to do more trade with – are located.  It’s the financial lifeblood of the country.  So it’s logical to come here and, obviously, look forward to coming back and seeing the country again.  I told our media earlier today we don’t – they were asking why we were here, because it’s amazing, the media wants us to go to other parts of the world sometimes, not here.  I said we actually don’t come enough if you think about the importance of this relationship.  So not only do I – I’m glad I’m here, but I’m glad there’s a congressional delegation in town at the same time.  And I know we’ve sent people here from – the Attorney General’s been here, the Commerce Secretary’s been here, and I expect to be back.

QUESTION:  Since we are in Mumbai, the commercial capital, let’s get down to business.  The trade deal between India and the U.S., today you said it is very, very close.  How close is close?  When —

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, I —

QUESTION:  Is there a deadline?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Yeah, no, I’ve felt that way before.  And with these deals, it’s always important that it be totally agreed to every detail of it, before it’s announced, because you can’t afford for a relationship of this magnitude to be threatened by announcing a deal and then it turning out the deal wasn’t finalized.  But it’s incredibly close.  I think we’re down to some technical details that have to be worked out.  Technical details matter because there has to be agreement.  Both sides have to agree that the language means the same thing.  So it’s down to that level.  I’m not personally negotiating it because it’s done through our Trade Representative.  But I know – and have been very involved in watching it happen – that it is something we anticipate seeing in a matter of weeks, not months.

QUESTION:  And do you think that India can expect to some better rates than others?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, obviously the purpose of making a deal is to have better rates than what you have now.  But the more important thing is about ensuring that our trade relationship is in a sustainable way.  Look, the foreign policy of the United States, the trade policy of the United States is driven by a recognition that every country has national interests.  We fully expect, not just India but every country we interact with, is going to defend and fight for what’s good for them. 

QUESTION:  Yes. 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  And we’re going to fight for what’s good for us.  The difference is when you are friends, when you are allies, when you have so much in common, that’s what allows you to bridge those differences and come up with something that’s mutually beneficial.  For a trade deal with India, or any country for that matter, to be sustainable in the long term, it has to be an agreement that is good for both sides.  There are things that you’re not going to like in it, but the preponderance of it is good for you.  And that’s what we aim to achieve here, and I can’t wait till we do it because we have so many things we can work together on.

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, America imposes sanctions and tariffs on countries like India for buying Russian oil.  But America itself is buying diesel now from Russia to cool pump prices, probably ahead of the midterms.  How do you see this change and the shift in strategy?  And how do you explain this broader picture?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Yeah – well, what’s interesting about it is – and I’m not saying the war in Ukraine is not important; it is, and it’s something now that’s going on its fifth year.  It’s very problematic in that regard.  But even the people that pressure us, I could do this interview in another part of the world and they’re asking us why we’re not imposing more sanctions.  And people don’t realize that sanctions come at a consequence, because sanctions aren’t just on Russia.  They are on anyone who does business with Russia.  So there’s a balancing act there – there always is – between on the one hand trying to pressure the countries involved in this war to enter into an agreement, and on the other hand recognizing that when you do that pressure, sometimes it spills over and has a negative impact on other countries. 

It’s one of the reasons why, despite criticism from Democrats and others, the President chose to use a national security waiver on the latest bill that Congress passed, which called for an increase in tariffs – and sanctions, but tariffs – on specific countries that are still doing work with Russia.  And the President chose to use a national security waiver to not immediately implement those, because he recognizes that these things have to be looked at in their totality.  It can’t just be about the – you have to balance your interest, what’s happening in Ukraine and Russia, with the impact that it’s having on a global scale.

So hopefully, between that and a trade agreement with India, these issues will be resolved.  But I understand the tension exists, and I understand sort of a balancing act that we have to work through.

QUESTION:  One more issue that concerns us, Mr. Secretary, is that a few days back there was a block to attack a Hindu temple in the state of Illinois.  The Indian Government has also drawn the attention towards racist hostility and anti-India sentiment, anti-India hate.  How do you see this towards a community that is known for academic excellence, low crime rate, and it’s actually a part of the great American story?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, unfortunately – and I will just say this is not unique to the United States – in every society in the world, because it’s endemic to the human condition, there is ignorance and there’s hatred.  And it happens, and you see it – these attacks in different parts of the world for different reasons.  Some are motivated by terrorism; others are motivated by hatred.  And the United States is not immune to that. 

I do not believe, nor have I ever perceived, that anti-Indian sentiment in the United States is widespread or deep.  But I must also tell you, like any large and complex society, there are individuals within our country, sadly, who are stupid, who are dumb, or who are ignorant, or who are hateful.  And what I am very proud of is the way these communities react when it happens.  And I don’t just mean the Indian and American community, I mean the community that surrounds them and how they rally around and reject it.

I remember, a few years ago, we had a horrifying incident with a Sikh community in Wisconsin and how the community rallied to support them.  So these things happen.  We have a rise in antisemitism in the United States.  We’ve seen that as well; it’s very disturbing.

QUESTION:  Yes.

SECRETARY RUBIO:  So these are things that we address and we reject.  I think the important point is that the majority of the country speaks with moral clarity about how wrong these things are and that those of us in positions of authority never do anything that is sort of encouraging it or excusing it or in any way looking the other way.

QUESTION:  That’s reassuring.  One more question is this U.S. stance towards Pakistan.  You, as senator in 2025, you had said that you would introduce a bill to cut U.S. security aid to Pakistan if it sponsored terror against India.  Has that changed?  Has that policy changed at all?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, we’re against terrorism anywhere in the world.  We’re against anybody who sponsors terrorism.  In my new role – I’m no longer a senator; I’m the Secretary of State – I have to manage the foreign policy of the United States.  And that does require us to have relationships with countries, including those that we may have some disagreements with. 

In the case of Pakistan, it’s a country that we have to have a relationship with.  It’s a country that possesses nuclear weapons.  It’s a country that, from a geographic standpoint, we need to be able to interact with them, in much the same way as the Government of India has to have and has a relationship and meets with leaders from Iran.

QUESTION:  Yes.

SECRETARY RUBIO:  So these are difficult things to balance, but they have to be as part of our foreign policy.  And I think in a way it could be a positive thing, because if we have a relationship and we can speak to them it could perhaps help us – help – it perhaps puts us in a position to help discourage the kinds of things that India is worried about.

QUESTION:  Okay.  Mr. Secretary, earlier this month you said that Iran had lost complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, but ships are being struck every now and then, and the war is spreading to Yemen and Saudi Arabia.  How do you see the situation evolving?  President Trump has been saying that the war will be over after the midterms.  Do you see military escalation, or do you see there is a deal in the offering?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, it’s tough to make a deal with the Iranian regime.  Unfortunately, they don’t know how to make a deal, and they’re controlled by radical Shia clerics.  And I don’t mean Shia clerics; I mean radical Shia clerics who are driven by theology – very difficult to make a deal with them.  The straits are – if you look at on any given night in the straits, the amount of traffic and oil and energy flowing through there is on – it’s 80 to 100 percent equal to what it was before the conflict. 

Unfortunately, Iran is doing something – and that’s really what people should be talking about.  What they really should be talking about is that we have a nation-state that is openly – openly – saying:  We are targeting commercial vessels; we are trying to kill sailors who have nothing to do with the war; we are trying to sink commercial ships.  You haven’t seen that since the Second World War.

QUESTION:  Yes.

SECRETARY RUBIO:  They are doing Nazi U-boat tactics.  And that’s what the world should be rallying around and condemning.  Every single night, the United States defends shipping.  The overwhelming majority of these drones and missiles that they are launching at ships are being destroyed.  Every now and then, unfortunately, one will get through and strike the ship.  Luckily, for the most part, most of these ships are able to continue in transit.  But every now and then, you do see an engine room hit.  And every now and then you see loss of life, including many Indian sailors who have lost their lives in these strikes because there’s such a large number of Indian sailors out there. 

So it’s something that we’re worried about, but I think it’s incumbent on Iran to stop doing it.  In the meantime, we’re going to continue putting extraordinary economic pressure on them, because we know that every dollar that they get access to, every resource they get access to – they don’t use it to better the lives of their people or better their country.  They use it to sponsor terrorism.  They use it to make missiles and drones to try to sink commercial vessels. 

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, there hasn’t been a Quad leaders’ summit since September 2024, and it is Indian’s turn to host it now.  Do you think this happening anytime soon?  Will President Trump travel to India for the Quad’s next Quad summit?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, our hope is that a Quad summit will occur before the end of this year.  It’s been agreement now that we’re going to do it; we’re going to do it in Manilla, at the ASEAN conference, where the four – we don’t have the specific date yet, but that’s going to happen, and we’re very enthusiastic about it.  There’s been – in fact, the first meeting I ever did as Secretary of State was a Quad meeting with the foreign ministers.  That is literally the first meeting I ever did.  As soon as I was sworn in, I went upstairs and we did it.  I think since then we’ve had seven or eight engagements.  We’re about to have another one in Atlanta at the G20.  And the leaders-level meeting, we look forward to being a part of that at ASEAN here in just a few weeks.

QUESTION:  Mr. Secretary, one last question.  You’ve been in India this time.  You’ve met Foreign Minister Jaishankar.  Could you give us a sense of the conversation between the two sides?  And what takes you to Jamnagar tomorrow, to Reliance?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Well, on – with Jai, I think we have a great relationship, and I’ve gotten to know him.  As I said, it was the first meeting I did as Secretary of State – he was part of it at the time; he was part of that first meeting.  So we’ve met – I don’t know how many – we’ve must have met at least a dozen times, because he also came to the United States four times.  We saw him – anytime we’re in the same city, at a gathering or a conference or what have you, we always make a point to meet.  And so I think we’ve created a very positive and solid work relationship that’s allowed us to navigate some delicate and sensitive things over the last year and a half. 

As far as moving forward on the relationship, I think we have extraordinary opportunities.  I think we are aligned on so many different things.  The Quad is one that’s really taking on a lot of energy, and – because the Quad is not just a process by which we meet and agree to do certain things.  You are now starting to see action; you are now starting to see things happen.  And that’s what we’re excited about for the leaders’ meeting, is that at that meeting they will be able to actually announce concrete actions, not just simply a nice social gathering, but something that has concrete deliverables.

QUESTION:  And the agenda in Jamnagar tomorrow?

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Oh, the agenda, I’m – so well, look, Reliance is a very important company and has extraordinary capacity to refine energy.  Petroleum is useless if you don’t refine it into a useable product.  We think there’s an opportunity for them to continue to help India diversify its supply chain, its supply of energy.  For example, Venezuela is increasing its production of energy, and India has had a long history of being able to refine some of that. 

But it’s also one of the few companies that’s actually invested in refining capacity in the United States.  They’ve invested in increasing the refining capacity within the United States.  So being so close, it made sense to go see their operations, spend some time talking to them about the way we can work together more closely, especially when it comes to energy from the Western Hemisphere that can be refined here.  I think that’s helpful to India, but it’s also helpful to us.

QUESTION:  Thank you so much for giving us the time. 

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Thank you. 

QUESTION:  Thank you for spending time with Network18.  Through our network, you will be watched in every nook and corner of the country, through CNN-News18, CNBC, Firstpost, and at least 50 news – regional news channels in the country.  Thank you so much.

SECRETARY RUBIO:  Wow, good.  That’s like 50 interviews in one.

QUESTION:  That’s right.  Thank you so much.  Appreciate it.

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