U.S. Secretary of State Meets Indian Prime Minister to Discuss Energy Sales

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on the second day of a four-day visit. The two leaders discussed energy supplies and regional security issues. Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning and is scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra. Officials said he extended an invitation for Modi to visit the White House.

Rubio stated that U.S. energy products could diversify India's supply sources. The spokesman added that the United States will not allow Iran to hold the global energy market hostage. India imports more than 80 percent of its energy needs, with nearly half of its crude oil shipments normally passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipments through the strait have virtually halted since the Iran conflict. Modi said the pair discussed issues related to regional and global peace and security. Rubio had indicated before the meeting that the United States was prepared to sell India as much energy as it would buy.

The U.S. goods trade deficit with India reached $58.2 billion in 2025. India has committed to purchasing more than $500 billion worth of American goods under an interim trade agreement reached in February. Exports from India to the United States remained stable at $87.3 billion in the year ended March 2026. Shipments rose 0.9 percent year-on-year despite earlier tariffs.

Rubio will attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers on 26 May. The summit of Quad leaders is expected later this year in Delhi, though no confirmation has been given on attendance.

“Energy security is going to be the key theme of this visit because the Iran situation is not going to be resolved anytime soon." — Vineet Prakash, associate professor of US studies at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University India has also concluded free trade agreements with several other countries and blocs in recent months.”