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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrapped up a visit to India this week that focused on energy cooperation rather than traditional diplomacy in the capital. According to BBC News, Rubio held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai before traveling to the Gujarat town of Jamnagar to tour Reliance Industries’ sprawling refinery complex owned by Mukesh Ambani. The itinerary came as the Trump administration faces elevated diesel and gasoline prices that have become a political liability ahead of November midterm elections, with Middle East tensions disrupting global supplies. Rubio described India as a refining superpower during the trip and highlighted its potential role in easing market strains.
The Jamnagar facility holds capacity to process 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day and specializes in handling heavy grades suited to Venezuelan production, Reliance Industries has stated. Rubio told reporters in Mumbai that the complex has the capability to refine heavy crude produced in the western hemisphere including from Venezuela as output there increases. A Financial Times report placed the diesel crack spread at about $63 per barrel, three times its pre-war level, underscoring the urgency for additional refining capacity. US Energy Information Administration data placed West Texas Intermediate crude at $107.89 per barrel on October 20.
Analytics firm Kpler data shows India’s Venezuelan crude imports averaged roughly 465,000 barrels per day in October, a seven-year high with the bulk heading to Jamnagar. US Ambassador Sergio Gor, who joined the visit, said in a post on X that India’s imports of US liquefied petroleum gas have risen from under 10 percent to 67 percent over the past year, positioning the United States as the country’s top supplier. Rubio’s meetings with the Ambani family and other business figures including Gautam Adani and N Chandrasekaran also touched on potential Indian investment in US energy projects.
President Donald Trump announced in March a projected $300 billion long-term energy partnership involving Reliance and a new refinery at Texas’ Port of Brownsville, the first major such facility in the United States in five decades. S&P Global analysts have noted that India’s west coast refining infrastructure could quickly help address US diesel shortages amid ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Rubio added that Venezuelan oil alone would not resolve all supply gaps but could deliver short-term relief as production ramps up.
Rubio stated that India has made substantial progress in diversifying its energy sources, including reduced reliance on Russian crude, during discussions that also covered a bilateral trade pact nearing completion. “What India has expressed repeatedly is their desire to diversify their energy portfolio, which is a smart thing to do,” he said according to The Economic Times. The visit reinforced deepening US-India strategic ties with energy at the forefront as both nations navigate global market volatility.
Kpler figures indicate Reliance accounted for an estimated 76 percent of India’s Venezuelan crude imports in September, highlighting the refinery’s central role. Rubio’s engagement underscored Washington’s interest in leveraging Indian refining expertise while boosting American energy exports to the growing market. Officials from both sides expressed optimism about further collaboration on petrochemicals, data centers and new energy initiatives tied to the Jamnagar operations.
