Rubio Urges India to Expand Energy Trade and Buy More American Technology

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged India to expand energy trade and increase purchases of American technologies and systems during talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai. India and the United States agreed to deepen cooperation in energy security and defence during the meeting.

The discussions took place on October 20, 2026. They also covered trade, critical and emerging technologies, and regional and global developments, including the situation in the Middle East.

Rubio said the two countries were very close to finalising a bilateral trade deal, with only a small number of items left to wrap up. Both sides welcomed the progress made in negotiations on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to working towards its early conclusion.

The US State Department said increased energy trade with the United States can play a transformative role in diversifying India's supply chains while meeting its sizeable consumer demand. Rubio said India had made substantial progress in diversifying its energy portfolio and that the United States could be a source of some of its energy inputs.

Ahead of the meeting, Rubio described India as a crude oil refining superpower and advocated processing more Venezuelan crude in India. He was scheduled to visit Reliance Industries' Jamnagar Refinery on October 21, 2026.

Rubio commended recent progress in bilateral defence and civil nuclear cooperation, and advocated for the increased purchase of US technologies and systems.