US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for American energy exports to help diversify India’s energy basket during his meeting with PM Modi, reiterating his earlier assertion that Washington wants to sell India “as much energy as they’ll buy” amid mounting uncertainty over disruptions in the Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday pitched American energy exports as a key solution to diversify India’s energy basket during high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the ongoing Iran conflict continues to disrupt global oil supplies and intensify concerns over energy security in New Delhi.
Rubio, who is on a three-day cross-country visit to India, held discussions with PM Modi at Seva Teerth in New Delhi on issues ranging from security and trade to the worsening situation in West Asia.
Even before embarking on his India visit, Rubio had signalled Washington’s intent to expand its role as a major energy supplier to New Delhi. Speaking to reporters in Miami before departing for Sweden and India on Friday, the US Secretary of State said Washington wanted to sell India “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, referring to India’s energy imports.
With the United States ramping up oil and gas production in recent years, Washington is now seeking to boost exports to major consumers such as India, particularly as Asian economies look for stable and reliable energy suppliers amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Rubio also hinted at the possibility of cooperation involving Venezuelan crude oil.
“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,” Rubio said.
The talks come amid growing uncertainty in global energy markets after escalating tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States severely affected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil and gas flows.
India, which imports more than 80 per cent of its energy requirements, has been particularly vulnerable to the disruption, with nearly half of its crude imports typically passing through the strait.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the “current situation in the Middle East”, with the US Secretary stressing that Washington “will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage”.
