US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the countries are in the final stages of negotiating a trade agreement between India and the US. This statement was made during a conversation with journalists in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before his arrival in India.
According to the schedule, Rubio will arrive in Mumbai on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to meet with Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar. Following this, he will visit Jamnagar, known as one of the world's largest oil refineries.
Marco Rubio emphasized that they are actively working to finalize the trade agreement with India and believe it is very close to being concluded. He also noted that US President Donald Trump considers many factors, including global energy supplies, pricing, and the needs of various countries, when making national security decisions.
Rubio added that for some countries, it is not easy to immediately switch to alternative energy sources. He called India an important partner and ally of America, stressing the need to achieve a balance among all these aspects when making foreign policy decisions.
Rubio's statement came against the backdrop of Trump temporarily suspending provisions regarding proposed tariffs for countries purchasing oil from Russia. Previously, a provision under the Lindsey Graham Act stipulated the imposition of up to 100% tariffs on five major importers of Russian crude oil and gas, which included India and China.
Rubio noted the importance of understanding the impact of imposing tariffs on other countries alongside sanctions against Russia. He reported that Trump decided to assess the impact of these measures on the global and American economies over 60 days.
The US Secretary of State also pointed out that although India is making efforts to diversify its energy sources, it still purchases a significant amount of energy from Russia. He explained that changing energy supply sources overnight is not an easy process. Stressing the importance of India as a key US partner, he stated that these circumstances must be taken into account before making decisions on tariffs and sanctions.
Furthermore, Rubio mentioned the growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on energy facilities during the Russia-Ukraine war. According to him, these events are affecting global energy prices and supplies.
During his visit to India, Rubio will hold meetings with high-ranking government officials. These negotiations are planned to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between India and the US, exchanging views on the regional and global situation, and exploring opportunities to expand energy cooperation.
