Secretary of State Marco Rubio has a “gargantuan task” during his visit to Delhi: defuse tensions over President Trump’s anti-India aggression and overtures to China.
Between the military honor guard, flag-waving schoolchildren and state banquet in Beijing last week, President Trump found time to lavish praise on Xi Jinping, the head of the Chinese Communist Party, calling him “a great leader” and “a friend.”
The two men, Mr. Trump said, would “have a fantastic future together.”
Mr. Trump flew home without stopping anywhere else in Asia. In interviews during and after the trip, he made no reassuring remarks on U.S. allies or partners in the region. He did say, however, that he would revisit arms sales to Taiwan, a comment that has stirred anxiety across Asia and prompted questions about U.S. security commitments.
Indian leaders are among those with concerns.
Rather than getting a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Trump to hear about his vision for Asia, they are hosting Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first trip to the world’s most populous nation. The four-day visit, with plans for closed-door diplomacy and jaunts to historical sites, began on Saturday with a quick stop at Mother Teresa’s charity in Kolkata and a meeting with Narendra Modi, the prime minister, in Delhi.
Mr. Rubio delivered an invitation on behalf of Mr. Trump for Mr. Modi to visit the White House, and the two officials spoke about deepening trade and defense cooperation, the State Department said in a summary of the meeting.
Mr. Rubio, who was in Beijing with Mr. Trump, will be expected to explain throughout his trip the administration’s Asia policy, given the American president’s clear desire to become a partner of Mr. Xi and to downplay security concerns over China.
The secretary will meet not only with Indian officials, but also with the top diplomats from Japan and Australia, who are flying to Delhi for a conclave next Tuesday of a partnership known as the Quad.