India news: Marco Rubio visits to repair ties, boost QUAD

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio kick-started his four-day visit to India
• New US immigration rule for green card seekers likely to affect many Indian nationals

Here’s a roundup of the key headlines from India on Saturday, May 23: 

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Skip next section WATCH: Is the US India's friend?05/23/2026May 23, 2026

WATCH: Is the US India's friend?

Sandra Petersmann in New Delhi

From tariffs and Russian oil pressure to Pakistan and the Iran war, the “Modi–Trump bromance” glow is gone. As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visits India, DW’s Sandra Petersmann asked an analyst how India can play its cards to manage the tricky partnership. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5EDwdSkip next section IN DEPTH: Can the Quad stay relevant to boost Indo-Pacific security?05/23/2026May 23, 2026

IN DEPTH: Can the Quad stay relevant to boost Indo-Pacific security?

Julian Ryall

Foreign ministers from the US, India, Japan and Australia — the four nations that make up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, better known as the Quad — are set to meet in New Delhi over three days from Sunday to discuss Indo-Pacific security, energy supplies and emerging technologies.

The meeting comes as China continues to test geopolitical and security boundaries in the region.

But it's another issue, which is not on the agenda, that looms large over the gathering: how to keep the alliance alive and relevant in an ever more challenging geopolitical landscape and an increasingly assertive China.

Read the full DW Asia report on the Quad meeting in India here. 

https://p.dw.com/p/5EDkySkip next section US bourbon bets big on India's growing market05/23/2026May 23, 2026

US bourbon bets big on India's growing market

Murali Krishnan Delhi

India is the biggest whiskey-drinking nation in the world. Roughly 230 million cases are consumed here annually, accounting for nearly half of global whiskey sales, according to the International Wine and Spirits Research, the global authority on beverage alcohol data.

But US-made bourbon brands, such as Maker's Mark, have long remained a niche product in India, where whiskey drinkers have traditionally preferred Scotch and domestic brands.

But that could finally be changing. For years, a 150% import tariff meant bourbon was prohibitively expensive in India, limiting both availability and consumer reach.

Recent US-India trade talks reduced that duty to 100%, significantly improving the economics of selling US whiskey in the world's largest whiskey market.

Read the full report here.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EDkzSkip next section Rubio in India to reset ties, strengthen Quad05/23/2026May 23, 2026

Rubio in India to reset ties, strengthen Quad

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on Saturday, kick-starting his four-day visit to the South Asian nation.

This is Rubio’s first official trip to India since becoming Washington’s top diplomat.

Rubio was welcomed by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at the city airport.

In Kolkata, Rubio visited Mother House, the headquarters of Saint Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. He then departed for the capital New Delhi, where he is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other high-ranking officials, including Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The trip comes amid strained bilateral ties over the Trump administration’s tariff policies, which raised duties on some Indian goods, Washington’s growing friendship with New Delhi’s archrival Pakistan and the energy crisis sparked by the Iran war.

But much of Rubio’s four-day visit will focus on a multi-city tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.

“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit.

On his last day in India, Rubio will hold talks with his counterparts from the Quad grouping — an Indo-Pacific strategic alliance which includes India, the US, Japan and Australia that is seen as a counterweight to China’s growing economic and military might.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EDkxSkip next section Welcome to our coverage05/23/2026May 23, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Srinivas Mazumdaru | Wesley Dockery Editor

Good morning! and welcome to DW's India news blog.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in India for a four-day visit as ties between the two countries remain strained over a host of issues, including US tariffs on Indian goods and the energy crisis caused by the Iran war.

Meanwhile, the US government announced a new rule requiring foreigners to leave the US and apply for a green card from their home countries — a policy that could impact many Indian nationals currently residing in the US who want to change their visa status.

We have all of this and much more coming up. Stay tuned. 

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