“Every country has stupid people”: Rubio defends US amid racism concerns involving Indians

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday (May 24) dismissed attempts to paint racism against Indians as a defining characteristic of American society, saying prejudice and ignorance were problems that existed across the world and should not be used to stereotype an entire country.

Rubio made the remarks during a joint media briefing with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi following delegation-level discussions between the two nations.

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The issue came up after a journalist asked Rubio about recent incidents of racism and attacks involving people of Indian origin in the US. During the exchange, Jaishankar was briefly seen smiling, a moment that stood out amid the otherwise formal diplomatic interaction.

Indian-American community

Responding to the question, Rubio remarked, “Every country in the world has stupid people,” while stressing that isolated acts of racism should not be treated as representative of American society as a whole.

He said the Indian-American community continued to be among the most successful and respected immigrant groups in the United States, with significant contributions across technology, medicine, academia, business and public service.

“The Indian diaspora in the United States is extraordinarily successful,” Rubio noted, adding that the actions of a small fringe did not reflect the broader values of the country.

Strategic relationship

Rubio further argued that racism and ignorance were not exclusive to one nation and could be found in societies globally. He said such incidents should not distract from the wider India-US partnership, which he described as one of Washington’s most important strategic relationships.

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The comments come amid increasing discussions online regarding attacks and discriminatory incidents involving Indians in parts of the US.

Diplomatic talks

The media interaction followed extensive talks between the two sides on trade, defence cooperation, strategic technologies, energy and regional security.

Discussions also focussed on new operational opportunities opened up by the passage of the Shakti Act, particularly following the recent visit of an American nuclear delegation to India.

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During the discussions, Rubio described the India-US partnership as having “global significance,” while Jaishankar termed it a “comprehensive global strategic partnership” driven by growing convergence across sectors and regions.

Rubio is currently on a multi-day visit to India and is expected to participate in the upcoming Quadrilateral Security Dialogue Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia.