Arti BaliNew Delhi, May 24 -- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi will conclude a bilateral trade agreement "soon", while describing India as one of America's most important strategic partners and a country with the ability to influence major global issues.
Speaking alongside External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar after bilateral talks in New Delhi, Rubio said the two countries were expanding cooperation across trade, energy, critical minerals, technology, counter-terrorism and supply-chain security.
"We hope to seal a trade agreement with India soon," Rubio said, signalling momentum in ongoing negotiations aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two countries....