New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal and Amber Fort on Monday alongside his wife, Jeanette Rubio, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, ahead of the crucial Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India, arrived in Agra by special aircraft at Kheria airport before travelling to a hotel near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal. He later proceeded to the 17th-century monument in a golf cart, according to officials.

After touring the marble mausoleum for around an hour, Rubio wrote in the visitors’ book: “Thank you for allowing us to visit one of the love treasures of the world.”

Dressed in a navy-blue suit despite the intense heat, the Miami-born diplomat appeared largely unfazed by Agra’s soaring temperatures, although he removed his tie before posing for photographs at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Security was significantly tightened around the Taj Mahal during the high-profile visit, with tourists inside the complex temporarily asked to move out by security personnel.

The visit came amid severe heatwave conditions in Agra. According to the India Meteorological Department, the city recorded a maximum temperature of 45.4 degrees Celsius on Sunday, making it one of the hottest locations in Uttar Pradesh.

Later in the day, the Rubios travelled to Jaipur, where they received a traditional Rajasthani welcome at the Amber Fort. Cultural performances featuring folk dances such as Kacchi Ghodi and Ghoomar were organised during the visit.

Tour guide Mahesh Kumar Sharma said the couple toured several prominent sections of the 16th-century fort complex, including Singh Pol, Diwan-e-Aam, Ganesh Pol and the famed Sheesh Mahal.

Rubio was reportedly particularly interested in the fort’s historic water management system and enquired about how water was supplied to the hilltop structure. He was briefed on the traditional rainwater harvesting techniques used at the site and appeared impressed by the centuries-old engineering methods.

Tuesday’s Quad meeting in New Delhi will bring together Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The Quad grouping — comprising India, the United States, Australia and Japan — has increasingly emerged as a key strategic alliance focused on maintaining peace, security and stability across the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking before departing for Agra, Rubio also commented briefly on ongoing diplomatic efforts concerning Iran, saying progress was still being made towards a possible agreement.

“Work is still in progress. We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today,” he said.

 

He added that discussions were focused on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and entering “a very real, significant time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matters”.

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