US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were also present during the important discussions. Before the bilateral meeting, Rubio addressed the media and outlined the US administration’s official position on the India-US trade deal, Venezuelan crude oil and India’s energy security strategy.
On the India-US trade agreement, Rubio indicated that negotiations had reached their final stage, raising expectations of an agreement being signed soon.
When asked about progress on the trade deal, Rubio said that although the State Department was not directly involved in trade-related negotiations, the National Security Advisor (NSA) and the State Department were working closely on the matter.
“We are very close to signing the agreement. Only a few final points remain to be resolved. We hope there will be some good news very soon, followed by the formal signing. We are extremely optimistic that this agreement will come into existence very soon,” he said.
Rubio’s remarks indicated that the two sides were nearing the conclusion of negotiations, with only a few outstanding issues remaining before the formal signing.
Rubio also praised India’s role in meeting global energy demand, describing the country as a “refining superpower” because of its capacity to process crude oil.
“India is a refining superpower. They have tremendous capacity to refine heavy crude oil. As Venezuelan oil comes into the market, Indian refineries can play a major role in this,” Rubio said.
Asked whether he would hold discussions with Reliance Industries about production in Venezuela, Rubio said Reliance had exceptional refining capabilities. He added that he would discuss opportunities in this area with Reliance leadership during his visit to Jamnagar.
The discussions also touched on India’s purchases of Russian crude oil and its broader energy diversification strategy. Responding to questions about India’s Russian oil imports, Rubio expressed support for the country’s efforts to diversify its energy portfolio.
“India has repeatedly expressed its desire to diversify its energy portfolio, which is a very sensible step. Change cannot happen overnight, but India has made considerable progress in this direction. This is not just about Russian oil; it is about India’s need for diversification, and the United States would be happy to become a major source for its energy needs,” he said.
Earlier during his Mumbai visit, Rubio paid tribute to the victims of the 26/11 terrorist attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. He also attended the ‘US@250’ programme at the Jio World Convention Centre.
On Wednesday, October 21, the US Secretary of State is scheduled to travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat, where he will visit Reliance Industries’ (RIL) oil refinery, described as the world’s largest refining complex, and meet leading industrialists.
Rubio’s visit has brought trade negotiations, crude oil supplies and energy diversification into focus, with his remarks highlighting the potential role of Indian refining capacity in processing Venezuelan oil and the United States’ interest in becoming a major source of India’s energy supplies.
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