[Video] Rubio Speaks at 'Freedom 250' Reception in Mumbai: 'The History of the 21st Century Is Being Written in This Region'
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the evening of October 20 delivered remarks at a "Freedom 250" reception marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor attended the reception, and the State Department released Rubio's remarks the same day.
"If you think about the story and the history of the 21st century, it's being written in this region and it's being written right now. One day someone will write a book about the history of the 21st century," Rubio said. "I truly believe the relationship between the United States and India is defining, in many ways in a positive way, what the 21st century can look like." He said the two countries are perfectly aligned on harnessing technologies such as superintelligence and quantum computing for the benefit of humanity while mitigating their harms, and that on geopolitics, free trade depends on open sea lanes and, for the United States and India in particular, on a free and secure Indo-Pacific in which no nation can claim dominance or ownership of international shipping lanes.
In his remarks, Jaishankar reaffirmed India's commitment to the strategic partnership, highlighted opportunities in trade, investment, technology, energy and defense, called on international partners to show zero tolerance toward terrorism, and thanked the United States for the extradition of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Earlier in the day in Mumbai, Rubio laid a wreath at the memorial to the victims of the 2008 attacks and met Jaishankar to discuss energy security and defense cooperation. On October 21 he is scheduled to travel to Jamnagar, Gujarat, to tour the Reliance Industries refinery complex.
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Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：10月20日，国务卿卢比奥在 Mumbai 与印度外交部长 S. Jaishankar 会晤。美国国务院官方照片，Freddie Everett 摄，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons 发布／Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai on October 20, 2026. Official U.S. Department of State photo by Freddie Everett, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
