US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday announced a new “America First” visa schedule that will prioritise business professionals, while also describing India as central to the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy.
Speaking at the US Embassy Support Annex Building dedication ceremony, Rubio said the new visa system is aimed at strengthening economic and strategic ties.
“We're introducing a new America First visa schedule that prioritises business professionals that strengthen these ties,” Rubio said.
Rubio arrived in Kolkata earlier on Saturday before travelling to New Delhi for meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Indian officials as part of his four-day India visit.
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During his meeting with Modi, the two sides discussed trade, defence cooperation, energy security, technology and Indo-Pacific strategy, according to reports. Rubio also invited Modi to visit the White House on behalf of US President Donald Trump.
In his briefing at the Embassy event, Rubio said India remains a cornerstone of the US approach to the Indo-Pacific region and highlighted the importance Washington places on the bilateral relationship.
“The relationship between our two countries is at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific,” he said.
He also referred to the Quad grouping involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
“My very first meeting officially as Secretary of State was a meeting of the Quad,” Rubio said. “We wanted to do it here, not just because of our commitment to that structure of work, but also as a tangible sign of what an important role India plays in the United States and in our posture and in our approach to the Indo-Pacific.”
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Rubio said the newly inaugurated facility would support visa operations as well as US diplomatic staff working at the mission.
“But the facility, as I said, is not just for those who are applying for visas. It's also for you, the Americans who work here, the men and women of this mission, who are at the front lines every single day of advancing America's national interest and America's national security,” he said.
He added that the building would improve efficiency and reduce operational costs.
“This facility saved Americans money because it's going to make us more efficient. It's going to allow us to do the work we have to do anyways, but allow us to do it more accurately, faster, and in a more efficient way. And so this is very important,” Rubio said.
Rubio also briefly referred to the weather during the ceremony, saying, “I wanted to keep this brief because it's hot.”
