Marco Rubio may emerge key keg in President Donald J Trump’s second innings with Asia on boil, China, Pakistan fueling instability.
Rohan Giri
“We are at an inflection point. Nations that value sovereignty, democracy and individual freedom must come together to preserve these ideals against rising authoritarian forces.” Marco Rubio, newly appointed US secretary of state said on ‘global authoritarianism and geopolitical shifting in 2024’.
The message was loud and clear to everyone who knew Rubio’s approach. Although he did not take names, his comments were obviously directed at China and Pakistan, two prominent South Asian countries.
There was a bigger story behind Rubio’s sensible foreign policy strategy, one that focused on strengthening ties with India. The vision Rubio aimed to advance appeared to be reflected in India’s strategic ambitions, rich cultural legacy and shared values as a growing nation.
Rubio’s involvement in US-India relations began much before his ascent to become US Secretary of State. In his tenure as a senator, Rubio advocated US – India Defense Cooperation Act of 2024. This significant bill was more than just a diplomatic gesture; it sought to strengthen Bharat’s position as a key point in US Indo-Pacific policy. Among its significant provisions was an extraordinary clause mandating Department of Defense to prioritize transfer of advanced technologies to India, a clear sign of trust and collaboration.
“India stands at the crossroads of global security,” Rubio pointed out at a Senate hearing. “It’s strategic location, vibrant democracy and shared interests with United States making it an indispensable ally in this era of uncertainty.” His buttressed his argument with facts rather than just political overstatement. India became world’s most populated country in 2023 surpassing China. With an average annual growth rate of eight per cent, its defense budget had been increasing rapidly and its naval expansion demonstrated its desire to establish control in Indian Ocean which Rubio identified as crucial for global trade and stability.
Rubio’s concentration on Indo-Pacific was intrinsically linked to his strong stance against China. Rubio had been raising concerns long before it became common in Washington DC to speak out against Beijing. From speeches opposing China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to op-eds warning about dangers of economic dependency, his stance was consistent. “Nations embracing China’s loans do so at their peril,” he cautioned in 2019. By 2024, the predictions had come true, as countries such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan were neck deep in catastrophic debt owing to Chinese-funded projects.
To Rubio, Quad—an alliance of United States, India, Japan and Australia—was critical to resisting China’s ambitions. He firmly supported the alliance’s naval drills and strategic consultations, seeing them as critical to countering Beijing’s growing aggressive behaviour in South China Sea. India’s geographic advantage and historic difficulties with China made it a key component of Rubio’s program. “A strong India is not just in America’s interest,” he asserted; “it’s in the interest of every nation that values a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
However, Rubio’s concerns extended beyond China. Pakistan, with its complicated history of state-sponsored terrorism, was another target of his critique. Throughout his legislative career, he pushed for measures to hold Islamabad accountable for its actions. US – India Defense Cooperation Act even included a provision requiring State Department to produce detailed reports on Pakistan’s use of proxy groups against India.
Rubio didn’t believe in just identifying terrorism—he demanded action. “American taxpayer’s dollars should never fund regimes that harbour terrorists,” he declared in a Senate speech, pointing to Pakistan government’s links to terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, US had close military relationship with Pakistan through aid agreements like SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organization).
Rubio’s strong standpoint resonated in New Delhi. Rubio’s push to make foreign aid contingent on verifiable counter-terrorism actions sent a clear message: the era of unhampered support for Islamabad was over.
His foreign policy demonstrated a deeper cultural alignment even as it was directed by geopolitical concerns. Rubio condemned persecution of religious minorities around the world in a statement released in October 2023. He said that upholding rights of religious minorities is crucial to maintaining world peace and order in addition to being morally right. Hindu communities in Bharat and the United States, who had long pushed for world attention to persecution of Hindus in nations like Bangladesh and Pakistan resonate in these remarks.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urged the Senate to address continuous violence against Hindus in Bangladesh during Rubio’s confirmation hearing as Secretary of State. Rubio affirmed his commitment to defending religious freedom and framed it as a key component of American foreign policy. He underlined that defending rights of religious minorities is crucial to maintaining world peace and is essential to global stability.
More than just opposing China or criticizing Pakistan, Rubio’s interactions with India were part of a larger vision for just and peaceful world order. In addition to being a strategic ally, he saw Bharat as a country whose core principles—pluralism, democracy, and resilience—were aligned to those of US.
Vibrant industries including technology and pharmaceuticals drove the record $191 billion commerce between United States and India by 2024. Indian-American population which is currently hovers at over 4.5 million has made significant contributions to education, engineering and medicine. Rubio saw these numbers as concrete proof of close and long-lasting relations between the two countries and not just statistics.
What sets Rubio apart is his ability to seamlessly blend pragmatic foreign policy with broader cultural and civilizational narratives? He avoids making loud proclamations about being “pro-India.” Instead, his actions—championing defense agreements, advocating for Hindu rights and emphasizing shared values—speak volumes. His approach is one of alignment rather than assertion, subtly integrating Bharat’s interests into broader framework of US geopolitics.
For Asia Pacific, Rubio represents unique harmony between values and practicality. His initiatives not only address urgent problems like regional security and terrorism but open the door for future collaboration. His acknowledgment of India’s strategic and cultural significance is more than just a diplomatic ploy; it shows his sophisticated awareness of changing world.
As US Secretary of State, he has difficult tasks as circumstances globally are becoming more unpredictable. He may, however, strike a compromise between principles and pragmatic factors as demonstrated by his past performance. For Bharat, his term holds promise for a collaboration based on respect and common objectives.
Rubio’s vision coupled with strategy will make him a key keg in President Trump’s second term. It’s about partnerships and significant commitments rather than just practicalities. He is aware that a relationship is only as strong when there are common values as there are common interests.
(Author is a doctoral fellow at Amity University in Gwalior, content head at Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies)
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