Rubio uses pageantry to reset U.S.-India diplomacy

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent four days in India engaging in ceremonial moments—from praying with Kolkata nuns to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visiting the Taj Mahal, and watching folk performances in Jaipur—part of a push to repair relations strained by Trump-era tariffs and Pakistan ties. While the pageantry signals a diplomatic reset and has drawn some cautious optimism from analysts, critics say the approach may be more transactional. The trip is framed around strengthening Indo-Pacific alignment, with signs of positive shifts like India reducing its Russian energy purchases cited as potential gains.