US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a media briefing in New Delhi with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, affirmed that the United States' engagement with Pakistan does not compromise its strategic alliance with India. He emphasized that the US maintains tactical relationships with various nations without undermining its commitment to India. Rubio stressed the ongoing strength and continuity of India-US relations, asserting that they have not lost momentum and are expected to grow even stronger in the future. He expressed hope for finalizing a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement and highlighted the two countries' shared interests in counterterrorism, trade, and emerging technologies. Both nations, he noted, have suffered from global terrorism, leading to a strong alignment in counterterrorism efforts. Additionally, discussions covered issues such as maritime security and civil nuclear cooperation, underscoring the extensive scope of cooperation between the two democracies. Rubio described the India-US partnership as one of the most important globally, emphasizing the need to build upon their already solid relationship.