Rubio visits Uzbekistan and India amid criticism he is avoiding major crises

Secretary of State Marco Rubio departed Washington on his 31st foreign trip, heading to Uzbekistan and India, amid criticism that he is prioritizing politically safe visits over pressing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine. The trip aims to promote U.S. economic and security ties with Central and South Asia, but has only tangential links to the administration's main foreign policy dilemmas. The State Department defends the schedule, saying Rubio is deeply involved in behind-the-scenes discussions on Iran, Gaza, and Russia-Ukraine, while special envoys handle public-facing roles. Former officials, including ex-NATO ambassador Ivo Daalder, argue Rubio is avoiding the capitals and negotiations that define the office. Rubio's deputy, Christopher Landau, dismissed such criticism as typical of a failed foreign policy establishment, while Rubio has refused to discuss speculation about his political ambitions.