Rubio visits India to sell energy as Iran oil shock persists

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India for a four-day visit amid ongoing global energy disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. His itinerary includes stops in Kolkata, Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, with a key focus on energy cooperation. The visit comes as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have nearly halted following US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which Tehran has used as leverage in fragile negotiations with Washington. India, heavily reliant on energy imports for its population of over 1.4 billion, faces significant challenges due to this disruption. Rubio emphasized the US’s readiness to increase energy exports to India, highlighting record levels of US production and export capacity. India’s interest in boosting imports from the US aligns with efforts to address the substantial US trade deficit with India, which reached $58.2 billion in 2025. However, analysts caution that sourcing energy from the US is a longer and costlier process for India, making it an impractical sole solution to the current shortfall. The US has already granted India a waiver to continue purchasing Russian oil, but New Delhi is expected to seek further concessions amid ongoing energy security concerns. The visit also unfolds against a backdrop of strained India-US relations, marked by unresolved trade negotiations and differing narratives over the recent India-Pakistan conflict. While former President Trump has claimed credit for brokering peace between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, India has rejected third-party mediation. Additionally, tensions persist due to Trump’s public support for Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, a stance that has reportedly unsettled New Delhi. Rubio’s discussions with Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will likely navigate these complex geopolitical and economic issues alongside the critical energy agenda.