The US secretary says India has the capacity to refine heavy crude and could process more Venezuelan oil as supplies increase.
TBS Report
20 October, 2026, 06:20 pm
Last modified: 20 October, 2026, 06:25 pm
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio today (20 October) described India as a "refining superpower", saying it has the capacity to refine heavy crude and could process more Venezuelan oil as production expands.
Asked what role India could play in meeting global energy demand, Rubio, who arrived in Mumbai this afternoon on a three-day visit to India, said, "India is a refining superpower. They have the capability to refine heavy crude. They've done so in the past, and I think as more and more Venezuelan oil comes online, it's something they can do.
"They also, by the way, have pre-existing oil concessions in Venezuela that can produce more themselves," Rubio told reporters in Mumbai.
His remarks came ahead of talks with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai, where energy cooperation is expected to be a key item on the agenda.
The two are also expected to discuss bilateral trade and investment, defence, critical technologies and the crisis in West Asia.
Rubio's second visit to India this year comes amid strained bilateral ties.
During his previous visit in May, Rubio held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar, besides attending a Quad foreign ministers' meeting.
Ahead of the current visit, Rubio said in Uzbekistan that the US was "very close" to finalising a trade deal with India.
He also suggested that the US waiver of tariffs linked to India's purchases of Russian oil was connected to progress on the deal.
US President Donald Trump removed a potential obstacle to the trade deal on 16 October by waiving potential tariffs that would have penalised India for buying Russian crude oil.
Legislation signed by Trump in September authorised the administration to impose tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest importers of Russian oil, a group that includes India, the world's second-largest buyer after China.
India and the US have been negotiating a proposed trade pact since early 2025 to address tariff disputes, eliminate non-tariff barriers and improve bilateral market access.
India is seeking more favourable tariffs for its goods in the US market than those offered to its competitors.