Rubio to Visit India Next Week for Talks on Energy Cooperation, Strategic Ties
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Mumbai and Jamnagar next week for discussions aimed at strengthening U.S.-India relations, with energy cooperation, trade and investment expected to feature prominently on the agenda, the State Department announced Wednesday.
Rubio is scheduled to travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and the Indian cities of Mumbai and Jamnagar from October 17 to 22. The visit to India will be his second official trip to the country this year.
“He will meet with senior government officials to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation,” the State Department said in a statement.
The secretary will also meet with business leaders to explore opportunities for commercial investment and economic collaboration.
The visit comes as Washington approaches an October 18 deadline under the Graham Act concerning penalties targeting countries that purchase Russian energy.
India has emerged as one of the largest buyers of Russian crude oil since 2022, making its energy trade with Moscow a recurring source of friction in relations with the United States.
Rubio’s scheduled stop in Jamnagar, Gujarat, is particularly notable because the city is home to Reliance Industries’ massive oil refining complex, one of the largest in the world. The State Department did not specify the purpose of his visit to Jamnagar.
Before traveling to India, Rubio will attend the C5+1 Ministerial meeting in Samarkand, where he will hold discussions with senior officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.
The C5+1 is a diplomatic forum connecting the United States with the five Central Asian republics to promote regional cooperation and address shared economic and security priorities.
The State Department said Rubio would emphasize how cooperation through the forum contributes to greater stability and prosperity across Central Asia.
“On this historic visit, Secretary Rubio will lead a U.S. commercial delegation comprised of over 200 business leaders, ushering in a new era of strengthened commercial cooperation for the United States and Central Asia,” the department said.
Rubio previously described India as a “great partner” during his visit in May, when energy cooperation and the Quad grouping were among the major topics of discussion.
India and the United States maintain a comprehensive global strategic partnership encompassing defense, trade, technology and energy. The upcoming meetings are expected to provide another opportunity for both countries to address economic priorities and strengthen bilateral cooperation amid evolving geopolitical and energy market conditions. (Source: IANS)
