Washington is looking to diversify Indias energy supply after triggering a global crisis with its attack on Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on expanding an energy "partnership" amid the global crisis caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran.

During a meeting on Saturday, part of Rubio's four-day visit to India, the US secretary of state said the two sides had discussed "the situation in the Middle East and US-India partnership in energy, securing critical supply chains, and collaboration on emerging technologies."

Modi described the discussions as focused on "sustained progress" in the India-US strategic partnership, as well as regional and global security issues. "India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good," he wrote on X after the meeting.

India, the world's third-largest crude importer, relies on foreign suppliers for more than 80% of its energy needs and has been heavily affected by the crisis, even though Tehran has allowed Indian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which it shut to "hostile" nations.

Rubio claimed that Washington - which imposed its own blockade of the strategic waterway - "will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage" and affirmed that "US energy products have the potential to diversify India's energy supply."

Ahead of the trip, Rubio said the US wanted to become "a bigger part" of India's import portfolio and "sell them as much energy as they'll buy," while also pointing to "opportunities with Venezuelan oil." He said that interim President Delcy Rodriguez, who assumed power after the US military raid on Venezuela in January, would travel to India next week to discuss oil sales now conducted under Washington's full control.

Shortly after meeting Modi, Rubio claimed that India had "committed" to purchasing $500 billion worth of US goods over the next five years, focused on energy, technology, and agriculture. New Delhi, however, has yet to officially confirm any new commitments.

In recent years, ties between Washington and New Delhi have been strained by a trade deficit that stood at $58.2 billion last year and by India's continued purchases of Russian oil, which has been the country's largest energy source since 2022.

New Delhi has refused to halt Russian oil imports, insisting it will continue sourcing energy from all available suppliers to protect the economy and national interests. Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods linked to trade with Russia, but later eased the measures under a preliminary deal with Modi.

(RT.com)