U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged India to increase its purchase of American energy products during a recent visit to Delhi.
The push comes as India seeks to protect its energy security amid instability in the Strait of Hormuz. Diversifying oil imports allows India to mitigate the risk of supply disruptions in one of the world's most critical shipping lanes.
Rubio met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a four-day visit [1]. During the talks, Rubio said India wisely diversified its energy basket to avoid over-reliance on single regions. He positioned U.S. energy products as a reliable alternative to help India maintain its robust refinery operations during the current crisis.
Regarding the scale of potential trade, Rubio said the U.S. wants to sell India "as much energy as they'll buy" [2]. This strategy aligns with Washington's goal of expanding its energy export footprint in Asia, while strengthening strategic ties with New Delhi.
India has already begun shifting its procurement patterns. This month, Venezuela has become India's third-largest crude oil supplier [3]. This shift reflects a broader effort by Indian officials to reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks in the Middle East.
However, the energy partnership faces friction from other areas of trade policy. While the U.S. seeks to deepen energy cooperation, Washington has imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports, including levies specifically linked to India's continued purchase of Russian crude oil [4].
Rubio's visit emphasizes a dual-track approach by the U.S. government — utilizing energy exports as a tool for diplomatic alignment while maintaining a hard line on trade and sanctions related to Russia.
“"as much energy as they'll buy"”
The U.S. is attempting to leverage India's urgent need for energy security during the Strait of Hormuz crisis to displace competitors and increase American exports. However, the effectiveness of this pitch may be hampered by contradictory U.S. trade policies, specifically the imposition of tariffs on Indian goods tied to India's ongoing oil trade with Russia.
