During his visit to India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed Washington’s intention to prevent geopolitical turmoil from distorting global energy markets, while pushing exports to India.During discussions on energy security, Rubio’s office stressed, quoted by Reuters, that the United States sees energy exports as a key tool in strengthening partnerships, especially with India, which remains a major importer of crude oil and faces supply diversification challenges.In this context, Rubio said: “American energy products have the potential to diversify India’s energy supply.” He also stressed the broader US position on global energy stability amid the Iran-related crisis, with his office adding that “the United States will not allow Iran to hold the global energy market hostage.”The US Secretary of State also noted that they “will make important announcements in the coming months to further strengthen Indo-US relations.”Additionally, in a post on X, Rubio also praised India-US relations. “In New Delhi, I met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to underscore the importance of the US-India relationship. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and the US-India energy partnership, securing critical supply chains, and cooperation on emerging technologies.
“I was pleased to invite Prime Minister Modi to the White House on behalf of the President.”
These statements come at a time when the Iran war has disrupted global energy flows and contributed to the volatility of oil markets, complicating Washington’s efforts to reduce India’s dependence on Russian crude imports. Instability has added a new layer of complexity to US energy diplomacy in Asia, where security of supply has become increasingly central to strategic engagement.The ripple effects of the conflict have not only affected global pricing, but also slowed parts of Washington’s broader effort to reorganize energy trade flows away from sanctioned or high-risk suppliers, officials noted.Read also: Rubio invites Prime Minister Modi on behalf of Trump to visit the White HouseRubio’s comments came alongside broader engagement in New Delhi, where he met with Prime Minister Modi to discuss energy cooperation, trade expansion under Mission 500, and Indo-Pacific strategic alignment through the Quad.In previous public statements, Rubio also signaled a more aggressive US energy stance towards India, saying: “We want to sell them as much energy as they buy.”Separately, he reiterated India’s importance in Washington’s strategic outlook, describing it as a key partner in shaping long-term regional stability as the United States continues to manage the economic and geopolitical fallout from the Iranian conflict.