U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad.

Rubio's first official trip to India comes as Washington seeks to stabilize relations with New Delhi after ties became strained over President Donald Trump's tariff policies, which raised duties on several Indian exports. The four-day visit will focus on diplomatic engagement and includes a multi-city tour.

The Secretary of State arrived in the eastern city of Kolkata on Saturday morning, where he is scheduled to visit Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa. His itinerary also includes visits to the northern cities of Agra and Jaipur, known for their historic monuments and palaces.

According to U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, Rubio will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday in New Delhi and hold a bilateral meeting with India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday. The ambassador indicated discussions will cover trade, technology, defense, and Quad-related matters.

On Tuesday in New Delhi, Rubio will participate in the ministerial meeting of the Quad alliance. The group has repeatedly criticized China's military activities in the South China Sea and its territorial claims in the region. Beijing maintains its military operations are defensive and characterizes the Quad as an attempt to contain China's economic growth and influence.

Rubio's visit includes participation in a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. After his inauguration in January last year, meeting with the foreign ministers of the other Quad countries was Rubio's first formal international engagement as Secretary of State.