Indian FM, Rubio Vow Deeper Energy Ties

(MENAFN) Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar declared Sunday that New Delhi is actively broadening its energy partnership with Washington, framing diversified supply chains as the cornerstone of India's long-term energy security — even as diplomatic friction over tariffs and Russian oil purchases lingers in the background.

Jaishankar made the remarks at a joint press conference alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi, following high-level bilateral talks.

"We spent some time today discussing energy issues, and again, you're all aware that our government's fundamental responsibility is to address the needs of 1.4 billion people. Obviously, ensuring the accessibility and affordability of energy for them is our prime objective," Jaishankar said during a joint news conference with Rubio.

He added: "Secretary (Rubio) and I, therefore, welcome the expansion in our energy trade in recent months. Diversified supplies are at the heart of energy security for India."

Relations between the two strategic partners had grown strained under President Donald Trump's tariff offensive — partly directed at India over its continued purchases of Russian oil during the Ukraine conflict. During Rubio's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, the US secretary of state pointed to American energy products and Venezuelan supply as viable options to diversify India's energy mix.

India had also ranked among the largest buyers of Iranian oil before halting purchases in 2019 under US sanctions, only to resume imports this year after Washington granted a waiver in light of its ongoing conflict with Tehran.

Hormuz Blockade Looms Large Over India's Energy Calculus
With the Strait of Hormuz still under blockade amid the Iran conflict, Jaishankar made New Delhi's position unmistakably clear.

"We want to see energy prices go down, because we are a very big importer of energy, and much of it comes from that region," he said.

"We are very much in favor of safe and unimpeded maritime commerce through the region," Jaishankar added, in an apparent reference to the Hormuz closure — a chokepoint upon which India and most other Asian nations depend heavily for their Middle Eastern energy imports.

The foreign minister also signaled India's desire to keep all diplomatic channels open simultaneously, drawing a parallel with New Delhi's balancing act in the Ukraine war.

"What we want to see is really the markets open up there. We don't want to see constraints, ... because our interests are growing, we have relationships with all the parties involved, and we are seeing this in the Ukraine conflict as well, where we have very strong relations with Russia, Europe, Ukraine as well, we have it with the United States, and then the question is how do you manage all of them," said Jaishankar.

Rubio struck an optimistic note on trade, pledging that the two sides would finalize an agreement that "is going to be enduring and is going to be beneficial to both sides and sustainable in a way that addresses this national interest that we have."

Visa Hurdles and Racism Allegations Put on the Table
Jaishankar also raised the sensitive issue of Indian travelers facing obstacles in obtaining US visas, saying he had briefed Rubio "of the challenges that legitimate travelers face in respect of visa issuance."

"While we cooperate to deal with illegal and irregular mobility, our expectation is that legal mobility would not be adversely impacted as a consequence," Jaishankar said.

When pressed on allegations of racist remarks targeting Indians in the US, Rubio did not sidestep the question.

"I'm sure there are stupid people here. … the United States is a very welcoming country. Our nation has been enriched by people who come to our country from all over the world," he said, while acknowledging that some individuals "have made comments online and in other places because every country in the world has stupid people."

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