US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday strongly pushed American oil and gas exports as a strategic solution for India’s growing energy security concerns during high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions took place against the backdrop of escalating instability in the Strait of Hormuz and wider tensions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict, which continue to disrupt global energy markets and shipping routes.
Rubio’s three-day visit to India is being viewed as a major diplomatic effort by Washington to stabilise and deepen ties with New Delhi at a time when bilateral relations under the second administration of Donald Trump have experienced repeated strain over trade disputes, Russian oil imports, tariffs, and geopolitical disagreements.
During his meeting with PM Modi at Seva Teerth in New Delhi, Rubio discussed issues ranging from trade and security cooperation to the deteriorating situation in West Asia and the future of global energy supply chains. According to officials, energy diversification emerged as one of the central themes of the talks.
Even before arriving in India, Rubio had publicly signalled Washington’s intention to significantly expand energy exports to India. Speaking to reporters in Miami before beginning his visits to Sweden and India, he said the United States wanted to supply India with “as much energy as they’ll buy.”
“We want to be able to do more. We were already in talks with them to do more. We want them to be a bigger part of their portfolio,” Rubio said while referring to India’s energy import strategy.
The push comes as the United States continues increasing domestic oil and gas production and seeks to position itself as a major long-term supplier for large energy-consuming economies such as India. Washington is particularly targeting Asian markets that are now searching for more stable and diversified suppliers amid rising geopolitical volatility in the Gulf region.
Rubio also hinted that future energy cooperation could include Venezuelan crude oil exports.
“We also think there are opportunities with Venezuelan oil. In fact, it's my understanding that the interim president of Venezuela will be travelling to India next week as well,” he stated before his India visit.
The discussions come at a time when disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have significantly affected global shipping and oil flows following the escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas shipments normally pass through the strategic waterway, making it one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
India remains particularly vulnerable because it imports more than 80 percent of its crude oil requirements, with a substantial share traditionally moving through the Hormuz route. Recent disruptions have already pushed India to increase oil purchases from regions including Latin America and Africa in order to reduce dependence on unstable Gulf supply chains.
Indian refiners have reportedly expanded imports from countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, Angola, and Nigeria as uncertainty surrounding the Hormuz route intensified.
During the Modi-Rubio discussions, the US Secretary reportedly assured India that Washington would not allow Iran to “hold the global energy market hostage.”
The talks also covered broader strategic issues including the Indo-Pacific region and cooperation within the Quad framework involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Rubio described India as a “cornerstone” of America’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
Both sides additionally discussed the “Mission 500” initiative aimed at increasing bilateral trade between India and the United States to 500 billion dollars by 2030.
Rubio’s visit is also politically significant because it comes after a turbulent period in India-US relations. Under Trump’s second term, Washington imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods and criticised India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, while India grew increasingly concerned over America’s simultaneous engagement with Pakistan and softer diplomatic posture toward China.
Despite these tensions, both governments now appear eager to prevent further deterioration in relations, particularly as instability in West Asia reshapes global energy and strategic calculations.
Rubio also formally extended an invitation from President Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future, signalling efforts to revive top-level political engagement between the two countries.
