US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by his wife, visited Kolkata on Saturday, marking a significant diplomatic moment as it is the first visit by a US Secretary of State in 14 years. Rubio's visit is part of a broader four-day tour of India aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors including trade, technology, defense, and energy security. His arrival follows a long absence of high-level US diplomatic visits to the eastern metropolis, with the last being Hillary Clinton in May 2012.

During his visit, Rubio emphasized the US's commitment to strengthening energy partnerships with India, indicating that the US is prepared to supply as much energy as India is willing to purchase. This commitment comes amid high-level discussions between US and Indian authorities to boost energy exports, particularly in light of the US's record oil and gas production.

Rubio is set to attend the upcoming QUAD foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi on May 26, where discussions will focus on the evolving security landscape of the Indo-Pacific region. This meeting will bring together foreign ministers from the US, India, Australia, and Japan, with the aim of enhancing operational synergies among the partner democracies.