Marco Rubio lands in Mumbai for talks with S Jaishankar on trade, energy and security

Rubio arrives in Mumbai for talks with Jaishankar

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in the financial hub of Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon, travelling with a sizeable business delegation after a stop in Uzbekistan. It is his second visit to India since May, when he first met Jaishankar and attended a Quad foreign‑ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.

Agenda focuses on trade, energy and technology

Both sides are expected to sharpen cooperation in trade, critical minerals and technology. Sources close to the talks said the meeting will seek to sustain the momentum of the India‑US relationship and explore new pathways for collaboration in energy, technology and defence sectors.

Rubio will also visit Reliance Industries’ refinery at Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Oct 21. The plant processes Russian oil and is tied to a new refinery project in Texas – the first of its kind in the US in five decades – while Reliance is a major buyer of Venezuelan oil under the current US sanctions framework.

Geopolitical backdrop

The dialogue will extend beyond economics. Jaishankar and Rubio are slated to discuss the wars in Ukraine and West Asia, particularly their impact on food, fuel and fertiliser security. India has floated a cease‑fire proposal for the Russia‑Ukraine conflict aimed at safeguarding energy and grain flows.

Potential follow‑up meetings on the margins of the ASEAN Summit in Manila and the G20 summit in Florida were also mentioned, signalling a longer‑term coordination agenda.

US policy shift

Rubio’s visit comes days after President Donald Trump waived key provisions of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, temporarily suspending punitive tariffs on countries buying Russian oil. The secretary of state noted that “it’s hard to pivot” on oil suppliers, underscoring the delicate balance India faces in diversifying its energy mix.

Regional outreach

Ahead of the Mumbai talks, Jaishankar will host UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan for dinner, a meeting expected to review joint initiatives in energy, trade and defence and to touch on the West Asia situation.

Outlook

While a formal bilateral trade pact remains stalled, officials say the two leaders are “very close” to a deal that could deepen market access and investment flows. The talks aim to reinforce India‑US ties at a time when both capitals are navigating global supply‑chain disruptions and shifting geopolitical alliances.