Transcript: Secretary Marco Rubio Speaks At Freedom 250 Reception In Mumbai, India 

Thank you for bringing American music, your energy, and the spirit of the Indo Pacific to Mumbai. And thank you Madhur Padhavi for that wonderful rendition of India’s national anthem also.

I want to bring up somebody who wakes up every morning and who looks out for a way to make The United States better. Somebody who the president trusts, someone that the world seeks for his incredible judgment. Please give a very warm welcome for the second time this year, and I promise you he will be back next year, to my great friend, the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.

Secretary Marco Rubio’s Remarks

MARCO RUBIO: Sergio left his phone. Should I read what’s on it? Or you want to leave it here? Alright. Well, thank you.

It’s a great honor to be back with all of you here today. And I say be back because I was just here three or four months ago. And it’s interesting when I was here three or four months ago, Sergio threw a big two fifty party in Delhi, and now we’re here another two fifty party in Mumbai. And I’m starting to think all our embassy does here is throw parties every… But we’ll see what they come up with next year.

You can’t celebrate two fifty one the same way. It’s just not the same ring to it. But it is an honor to be back, and I’m glad to be back.

“I Actually Think We Don’t Come Enough”

I said earlier today we had this press conference. We have members of the media there, obviously, and they were asking… Somebody asked the question, “why are you back in India after just four months?”

And I said, well, number one, it happens to be the most populous nation on earth. It happens to be the oldest democracy on earth. It happens to be such a strong geopolitical partner of The United States. But here’s where I ended by saying is I actually think we don’t come enough.

I actually think we don’t come enough. And it’s not just for the parties. Because if you think about the story in the history of the twenty first 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 twenty first century, and there will be a chapter in there about the other regions in the world. But the twenty first century will be defined for better and for worse by what happens in this region.

We know that. We can sense it. We can feel it. And I just spoke to our team over at the consulate a few… About an hour ago, and I told them that.

I said, sometimes when you’re living through history, you don’t realize you’re living through history because it’s moving so fast and it’s happening so profoundly that sometimes you don’t stop and realize the moment that you’re in. I truly believe the relationship between The United States and India is defining in many ways, in a positive way, what the twenty first century can look like.

Now just to prove to you that those are not idle words, because these are nice things to say in every country you go to. Right? But just to prove that those are not idle words. And I see that our colleagues from Washington, from the congress are here. They know these issues that are being debated. And I’m also very grateful they have a very strong congressional delegation here, bipartisan congressional delegation.

Number one, I’m glad they’re here because they passed the budgets to fund all our agencies and… So don’t go back and say that all we do is throw parties, guys, because that’s… And… But the second is because they perceive it in congress as well.

Harnessing the Age of Superintelligence

Think about the issues that today are dominating the world. Number one, everyone recognizes that we are living through a moment of extraordinary technological innovation unlike anything man has ever seen. We’ve seen technological advances in human history in the past. We’ve seen what it does. It’s disruptive, positive and negative.

Industrialization was an incredible advance. It pulled millions of people out of poverty. It allowed countries to advance. It had a positive impact. It had some downsides to it too, and we spent decades dealing with it.

Automation and the information age also had a dramatic impact. Think about how we live life today compared to twenty, thirty, forty years ago, the immediate and instant access to information, immediate and instant access to each other and to people. This was revolutionary. It had positives and it had negatives to it as well.

But what we are living through now in the age of superintelligence, in the age of quantum computing, is moving faster than any technological advance in all of human history. And at its best, technological advance, what allows us to do as human beings is it allows us to do human things better.

And so the challenge we face is how do we harness the power of superintelligence? How do we harness the power of all of these things in a way that is beneficial, understanding that there will be downsides to it. We have to mitigate the downsides, but we must dominate and accentuate the positive aspects of it.

I say this to you because on that issue, The United States and India is aligned, perfectly aligned. We view it the same way. We have the same expertise. We have the same talented people working on it from engineers to creative thinkers and innovators. We are aligned, and we want to see a world in which superintelligence is used to the betterment of man and one in which the harms that it could cause are mitigated.

A Free and Secure Indo-Pacific

If you look at geopolitics, no matter what you make, no matter what you innovate, it has to get from you to the places you’re sending it to, unless you only want to sell to your own economy.

That requires free and unfettered ability to trade. That requires open sea lanes as an example, and in particular for The United States and India, a free and secure Indo Pacific. On that… One in which no nation can claim dominance or ownership of international shipping lanes. On that issue, we are a 100% and perfectly aligned.

I could go on and on, but the point is, of course, no two nations on earth will ever be perfectly aligned on every issue. And, of course, there will be times and points of disagreement.

But on the core issues that matter, the core issues that define the national interest of both India and The United States, the alignment between our countries is extraordinary, especially for two countries of this size, especially for two countries of this magnitude, because we can be aligned and not smaller countries don’t matter. Of course, they do.

But when you’re talking about a country that’s the… Approximating 1.5 billion people and the largest economy in the world in The United States, When two powers like that can be aligned on these issues that are going to define the twenty first century, then we have an opportunity together to write those pages in the history of the twenty first century.

Celebrating the Next 250 Years Together

And so while today we celebrate here the 250th birthday of The United States for the eighteenth time here in India, but on… I’m kidding. They’ve only done it 12. But it’s a year long celebration.

But while we’re here to commemorate and understand that, we also understand that what we are focused on collectively is not just to be proud of what America has achieved over two hundred and fifty years, but we’re also here to celebrate what together we can achieve for the next two hundred and fifty years.

The truth of the matter is that we are making decisions now in geopolitics and economics and trade and in commerce that will impact people that have not even been born, that will define the world in ways we cannot even fully comprehend or appreciate.

And what I’m excited about, what I challenge our team to be excited about at the Department of State, what I just challenged our team at the consulate here in Mumbai to be excited about, is be excited about the fact that today you are assigned to a place and you are working in a place where The United States is in partnership with another powerful, influential, and advanced country are helping to write the story of the twenty first century in a way that betters the values that we share in common.

Values rooted in the dignity of the individual, values rooted in democratic principles, values rooted in the rule of law, and values always rooted in the belief that our job for those who serve in public office is to lead the next generation better off than ourselves.

And to me, this is the best way to celebrate two hundred and fifty years of the American miracle. It’s to find partners from around the world where together and working together, we can take the things that made America exceptional as a nation and share it in partnership with friends like you.

And so we are grateful for the opportunity to be here tonight and to be with all of you. I’ll see you again in three months because I’m coming now every three months. So thank you very much.

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s Remarks

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr. Secretary and Ambassador Gor. We are privileged this evening to also hear from India’s minister of external affairs, his excellency, Dr. Jaishankar.

S. JAISHANKAR: Secretary Marco Rubio, Mrs. Rubio, Chairman Jason Smith and members of the codel, Foreign Secretary, Ambassador Sergio Gor, dear friends. It’s a real pleasure to join you all in Mumbai at the celebrations of the 250. I’m glad that Secretary Rubio has come here Because Mumbai has both a special significance for India. And a special place in our ties with The United States.

Mumbai: India’s Gateway to the World

Mumbai is, of course, India’s financial capital, but it is very much more than that. Bollywood is an integral element of its personality. Mumbai is a center of learning and a hub for research and for technology. Its traditions of entrepreneurship are deeply linked to the trade that its ports service.

The ethos of this city has many expressions, be it in sports or culture, media, or music. Most of all, this is a cosmopolitan city that serves as a gateway to the world. And it is one that is deeply invested in our relationship with The United States. Therefore, Secretary Rubio, it is particularly fitting that you celebrate this important anniversary here in Mumbai.

Now Mumbai’s Connect with America started, some of you would be aware, with what was called the ice trade, trading in ice. Today, it is very much at the heart of our financial, commercial, and technology ties.

There is so much about the past that can be cited in that regard. That Swami Vivekananda set out from here on his famous journey to Chicago, that Leon Abbey brought jazz to this city. In fact, secretary to the very hotel where you’re staying. That General Electric reactors have long contributed to the energy requirements of this city.

Or that, in fact, Starbucks opened its first Indian outlet here. And now that one of your leading cricketers, secretary, you won’t be counted as a friend of India until you really understand cricket. So one of your leading cricketers, Saurabh Netravalkar, actually hails from Mumbai.

A Partnership That Has Come a Long Way

Friends, our ties have indeed come a long way. History records that many Americans were supportive of India’s struggle for independence. After that, whether it was infrastructure and education or food, agriculture, and technology, our partnership has made a real difference to India’s development. Conversely, Indian talent and Indian skills have helped shape the tech era in The United States.

Of course, we’ve had our share of issues, the manner in which we approach the world and its challenges. But in the last few decades, our partnership has steadily expanded, acquiring new dimensions and new facets. The Quad, Mission 500, Pax Silica, and the Forge Initiative are among some of the notable examples. And growth in the fields of energy, in defense, and civil aviation sectors have actually been striking.

Zero Tolerance Towards Terrorism

Now like many other symbols of success and modernity, Mumbai too has been attacked by those who wish it ill. The spirit of the Mumbaikar was demonstrated in their response to the 26/11 terrorist assault. Six Americans also lost their lives at that time. Secretary Rubio, all of Mumbai and indeed all of India appreciates your laying a wreath today at the Taj Hotel’s 26/11 Memorial.

India also welcomes the… This administration’s decision to extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was one of the key culprits. We are clear on the right to defend ourselves against terrorism and expect that our partners show zero tolerance towards terrorism as well.

The Way Ahead for the India-US Strategic Partnership

As we mark this anniversary together, it is natural to reflect on the way ahead. The world order is clearly in transition, and countries are responding accordingly. Each one of us will naturally pursue our national interest. In such an era, expanding our convergence is key to deepening our ties.

There are new opportunities in our partnership, in trade, investment, technology, and energy, and these await us. We have a shared stake in strengthening peace and stability in the Indo Pacific. Engaging regularly and identifying common interest will certainly help provide a pathway.

So your presence here, Secretary Rubio, and the discussions that we’ve had earlier in the day hold great value. So let me conclude by reiterating India’s best wishes to The United States on this landmark anniversary. And while doing so, reaffirm our continued commitment to advance the India US strategic partnership. I thank you.

A Toast to America

UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Thank you, your excellency, for your incredible and inspiring words. Ladies and gentlemen, please prepare your glasses as Ambassador Gor offers a toast to America.

SERGIO GOR: I want to thank everyone for being here. If you’re in this room, it’s because you care about this relationship. What we have seen over the next two hundred fifty years has been incredible. What we hope to see over the next two hundred fifty years will be even more incredible.

So please join me in raising a glass to the next two fifty years of America and Happy Birthday USA. Cheers.

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