US Expands Diplomatic Focus Beyond India Ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been engaging with international counterparts, including New Zealand's Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, to discuss regional security and bilateral relations. Rubio and Peters emphasized the importance of the US-New Zealand partnership in the Indo-Pacific, while discussions with China focused on US-China relations and Taiwan. Rubio also addressed issues of irregular immigration with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who raised concerns about visa processing delays affecting Indian citizens and impacting business and tourism. Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly is set to meet Rubio to discuss tariffs, as Trump's administration considers imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian imports. These diplomatic interactions highlight the US's strategic focus on reinforcing international partnerships and addressing pressing bilateral issues.