Pratik AgrawalUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi, pushed back firmly against a surge of racist remarks targeting Indians online. He called those responsible “stupid people” and insisted America remains a welcoming nation for immigrants.
Rubio Speaks Out in New Delhi
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a firm stand on Sunday. He pushed back hard against racist comments targeting Indians in the United States. Speaking at a joint press conference alongside External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi, Rubio was asked directly about the rise in online hate remarks against people of Indian origin.
His response was blunt and surprisingly candid.
“I don’t know how to address that, but I’ll take that very seriously,” Rubio said. “I’m sure that there are people that have made comments online and other places, because every country in the world has stupid people. I’m sure there are stupid people here. There are stupid people in the United States that make dumb comments all the time.”
He then added without hesitation “I don’t know what else to tell you, other than the United States is a very welcoming country.”
America’s Story Has Always Been One of Immigration
Rubio did not stop at defending America’s reputation. He went further highlighting just how deeply immigrants have shaped the country.
“Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country from all over the world have become Americans, have assimilated into our way of life, and are contributing,” he said.
The Secretary of State specifically acknowledged the Indian diaspora’s outsized role in the US economy. He accepted that Indians have contributed over USD 20 billion to the American economy and said Washington wants that number to keep growing.
“We want that number to continue to increase,” Rubio said.
Immigration Reforms Are Not Aimed at India
A key concern for India has been recent changes to visa categories particularly F1, J1, and H-1B visas that affect thousands of Indian students and professionals in the US.
Rubio addressed this directly. He made clear that the overhaul of the American immigration system is not targeting India or any single country.
“The changes that are happening now, or the modernisation of our migration system into the United States, are not India-specific. It is global it’s being applied across the world,” he said.
He explained that the United States is currently rethinking how it manages immigration including who enters, how many, and when. He described what he called a migration crisis in recent years, with over 20 million people having entered the country without legal authorisation.
“Everything that you do as a country needs to be in your national interest and that includes your immigration policy,” Rubio said. “It is not a system that is targeted at India. We think ultimately our destination is going to be a better system.”
India and the US Strategic Partners, Not Just Allies
Earlier in the day, Rubio had sat down with Jaishankar for formal delegation-level talks at Hyderabad House. Senior officials from both nations were present including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on the Indian side, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on the American side.
Rubio described his first day in India as “fantastic.” He was clear that the two countries share something deeper than ordinary diplomacy.
“The United States and India aren’t just allies we’re strategic allies. And that’s of critical importance,” Rubio said. “Our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart because it’s not simply limited to a region. It extends to opportunities to cooperate globally.”
He called both nations the world’s two largest democracies and said that alone was enough reason for “incredible cooperation.”
“This is not about restoring or reinvigorating I’ve seen people use that terminology. This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership. One of the most important ones that we have and one of the most important ones in the world,” Rubio said.
US Ambassador Echoes the Sentiment
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor backed up Rubio’s message in a post on X. He wrote “Sec Rubio’s message is clear. Our relationship with India matters. Our strategic partnership with India is real. We have incredible potential ahead.”
Rubio had also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi the previous evening, shortly after landing in New Delhi signalling just how high-priority this visit was for Washington.
Aditya Didwaniya
The BRICS Times
Akshay Didwaniya
