'Extraordinary alignment': Marco Rubio says India, US agree on core issues despite differences

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on Tuesday, said India and the US share an "extraordinary alignment" on issues central to their national interests, even though the two countries may disagree on certain matters.

Speaking at the 'Freedom 250' reception in Mumbai, Rubio said the relationship between the two countries could play a defining role in shaping the 21st century, particularly in areas such as geopolitics, trade, technology and security in the Indo-Pacific.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who also addressed the gathering, acknowledged that India and the US have had differences in their approaches to global challenges. However, he stressed that expanding areas of agreement would be crucial to strengthening bilateral relations at a time when the world order is undergoing major changes.

Rubio said it was unrealistic to expect two countries to agree on every issue, but argued that India and the US were closely aligned on the matters that would shape their future.

"Of course there will be times and points of disagreement, but on the core issues that matter, the core issues that define the national interest of both India and the United States, the alignment between our countries is extraordinary, especially for two countries of this size," Rubio said, according to news agency ANI.

He pointed to India's population of nearly 1.5 billion and the United States' position as the world's largest economy to underline the importance of cooperation between the two countries.

According to Rubio, when two major powers agree on issues that will define the coming decades, they have an opportunity to influence how the history of the 21st century is written.

Jaishankar echoed Rubio's emphasis on strengthening areas of common interest, saying India and the US must recognise that each country will continue to pursue its own national priorities.

He noted that the global order was undergoing a transition and that countries were adjusting their policies accordingly. In such circumstances, Jaishankar said, expanding areas of agreement would be essential to deepening the India-US partnership. He identified trade, investment, technology and energy as sectors offering fresh opportunities for cooperation.

Jaishankar also highlighted the two countries' shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. According to him, regular engagement and efforts to identify common interests would help both countries find a way forward.

Rubio said he believed the Indo-Pacific region would play a major role in determining the course of global developments during the 21st century. He argued that the India-US relationship was particularly important because of the two countries' economic strength, technological capabilities and influence on international affairs. "I truly believe the relationship between the United States and India is defining in many ways, in a positive way, what the 21st century can look like," Rubio said.

He said decisions being taken today on geopolitics, economics, trade and commerce would affect generations that have not yet been born.

Rubio also described the partnership as an opportunity for the two countries to help shape the future international order according to their shared values.

He identified individual dignity, democratic principles, the rule of law and the responsibility to leave future generations better off as values underpinning the relationship.

Rubio highlighted that the ability to innovate and manufacture products would have limited value if countries could not transport them to international markets. He said both countries therefore shared an interest in maintaining free and unhindered trade across the Indo-Pacific.

Rubio also identified emerging technologies, particularly superintelligence, as another area where India and the US had similar objectives. He said both countries wanted advanced artificial intelligence to benefit humanity while ensuring that its potential risks were addressed.

According to Rubio, India and the US possessed the engineering talent, creative thinkers and innovators needed to work towards these goals.

Jaishankar said the bilateral relationship had evolved considerably over the decades, moving beyond traditional areas of cooperation into newer sectors.

He highlighted the role of Indian professionals and skilled workers in shaping the technology sector in the US.

Jaishankar acknowledged that the two countries had experienced disagreements, including differences in their approaches to international affairs. However, he said the partnership had steadily expanded over the past few decades, acquiring new dimensions. Jaishankar cited the Quad, Mission 500, Pax Silica and the Forge Initiative as examples of this growing cooperation.

He also pointed to significant growth in bilateral engagement in energy, defence and civil aviation.

Jaishankar also thanked Rubio for visiting the 26/11 memorial at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai and laying a wreath in honour of the victims of the terrorist attacks.

He said India appreciated the gesture and welcomed the US administration's decision to extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, whom he described as one of the key culprits in the attacks.

Jaishankar reaffirmed India's right to defend itself against terrorism and said New Delhi expected its international partners to demonstrate zero tolerance towards such threats.