Washington moves closer to India, inviting its Prime Minister

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the White House in the "near future", a week after a summit with China, and saw "a chance" that Iran would accept an agreement aimed at ending the war on Saturday.

Meeting Mr. Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, he "conveyed an invitation on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future!", indicated the United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on social networks.

"The oldest democracy in the world, in the United States, and the greatest democracy in the world, here in India, are natural partners today and for the future," declared Mr. Rubio, in a tuxedo in the searing heat, as he arrived at a gala dinner bringing together economic and political leaders at the residence of the United States ambassador.

Mr. Modi, for his part, declared that he had discussed with Mr. Rubio issues related to regional and global peace and security. “India and the United States will continue to work closely together for the good of the world,” he said in a social media post.

Marco Rubio also estimated that there was "a chance" that Iran would accept an agreement aimed at ending the war on Saturday.

"It's possible that later today, tomorrow or in a few days we will have some information to report," Mr. Rubio told reporters in New Delhi, adding that he hoped to have "good news."

Earlier inaugurating a new US embassy building by cutting a ribbon, Mr Rubio said the US-India relationship was "at the heart of our approach to the Indo-Pacific".

Such glowing statements have for decades been commonplace between the United States and India.

But Donald Trump has upended the assumptions of American foreign policy, last year distancing himself from India, whose leaders avoid the personal and flamboyant praise he has come to expect from his allies.

In 2025, he imposed heavy tariffs on India, which were eventually reduced, and India was barely mentioned in his administration's national security strategy.

Mr. Rubio "underscored the strategic importance of the partnership between the United States and India, based on our shared democratic values, the deep economic and commercial prospects and the close personal ties" between Messrs. Modi and Trump, according to the State Department, ignore the frictions.

During his visit to China, Mr. Trump welcomed the welcome of President Xi Jinping, despite limited concrete announcements, and mentioned the idea of a "G2", a formulation that has fallen into disuse in recent years, Washington's allies fear