International
oi-Prakash KL
A week after Tesla CEO Elon Musk targeted Reliance Industries chief Mukesh Ambani accusing him of blocking the entry of Starlink, it has now been confirmed by the US that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be visiting Mumbai and Jamnagar, next week.
Rubio is expected to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar between October 19 and 22, following engagements in Uzbekistan. But it is the decision to include Jamnagar, rather than New Delhi, in the itinerary that has raised eyebrows. The Gujarat city is home to Reliance Industries’ oil refining complex, one of the world’s largest single-site refineries, with the capacity to process around 1.4 million barrels of crude oil a day.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Mumbai and Jamnagar between October 19-22 to foster US-India economic ties, focusing on energy cooperation and Reliance Industries’ significant refinery operations.
The trip, his second to India this year, comes at a time when both the US and India are attempting to strengthen economic ties despite disagreements over tariffs, Russian oil purchases and other strategic issues. A US business delegation of more than 200 representatives is also expected to accompany him on the wider trip.
But it is the decision to include Jamnagar, rather than New Delhi, in the itinerary that has drawn particular attention. The Gujarat city is home to Reliance Industries’ oil refining complex, one of the world’s largest single-site refineries, with the capacity to process around 1.4 million barrels of crude oil a day.
The visit is expected to highlight the growing importance of commercial and energy cooperation in India-US relations. It has also prompted questions about whether Washington’s engagement with India is becoming increasingly centred on business interests.
Why Jamnagar Matters
Jamnagar’s importance goes well beyond its industrial footprint. Its refinery is a major part of India’s energy infrastructure, processing crude oil sourced from international markets and producing fuels for domestic consumption and exports.
For Washington, deeper energy engagement with India could open up opportunities for American suppliers and investors. For New Delhi, maintaining access to reliable and competitively priced energy supplies is essential to economic growth and energy security.
The visit also assumes significance in light of Reliance’s proposed investment in a new refinery in Brownsville, Texas. In March, US President Donald Trump announced the project, describing it as the first new US oil refinery in around five decades. The proposed investment has been valued at $300 billion, although its scale and implementation will be important factors to watch.
Rubio’s engagement with Reliance representatives could therefore provide an opportunity to discuss energy investments and commercial cooperation. However, there has been no official confirmation that a specific agreement will be announced during his visit.
The larger question is whether the two countries can translate business engagement into a more stable economic partnership at a time when their governments continue to disagree on important policy issues.
Trade Deal And Russian Oil In Focus
Rubio’s visit comes as India and the US continue efforts to finalise a bilateral trade agreement. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently indicated that negotiations were approaching a possible conclusion, while US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the major components had been worked out and the remaining issues were being discussed.
However, negotiations have been complicated by disagreements over tariffs and market access. Washington has also sought to pressure countries purchasing Russian energy, including through legislation that could allow the US president to impose tariffs of up to 100% on such countries.
India, which continues to rely on Russian oil for a large share of its energy requirements, faces a difficult balancing act. It must protect its energy interests while pursuing closer economic and strategic relations with the US.
Rubio’s discussions could offer an opportunity to address these concerns, although the extent to which they will feature in his meetings remains unclear.
The visit also follows a period of friction over US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he helped broker an India-Pakistan ceasefire in 2025, as well as concerns in New Delhi over Washington’s approach to regional security.
Opposition Questions Government’s Silence
The itinerary has triggered criticism from the Congress, which has questioned why details of Rubio’s engagements in India have been emerging from the US ambassador rather than India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh criticised the Centre after Gor said Washington expected Jaishankar to travel to Mumbai to meet Rubio.
Ramesh questioned whether the announcement of the external affairs minister’s domestic engagements should be left to a foreign diplomat. He also referred to the announcement of the halt to Operation Sindoor in May 2025, saying India had first learnt of the development from Rubio himself.
The criticism centres on diplomatic communication and the government’s handling of an important foreign visit, rather than simply the choice of cities on the itinerary. New Delhi had not formally announced the visit when the controversy emerged.
A separate criticism has come from political commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta, writing in The Indian Express. He argued that Rubio’s decision to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar instead of Delhi could be read as a sign of the changing nature of India-US relations.
Mehta suggested that Washington was increasingly engaging with India’s corporate and economic power centres while giving less emphasis to the country’s political standing. He warned that a relationship driven primarily by business transactions might not be enough to sustain the broader strategic partnership.
His argument was that India could benefit from investment and technological cooperation but should not allow commercial interests to overshadow its diplomatic autonomy.
However, according to a report in the CNBC, Rubio is visiting Mumbai at a time when the diesel prices have shot up ahead of U.S. midterm polls. The price hike will affect American truckers, farmers, and shippers and this is the key reason why President Donald Trump paused sanctions on Russia to allow supplies from Moscow in the global market.
