The United States and India were weeks away from signing a trade agreement, with both countries largely aligned, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during his India visit, CNA reported.
India's purchases of Russian crude remained a stumbling block, CNA reported. Rubio said the need to complete a trade agreement helped shape Washington's decision to waive potential tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.
CNA's Oct. 21 coverage of Rubio's India visit linked the trade discussions to Washington's efforts to persuade New Delhi to buy more American and Venezuelan oil. The broadcaster reported his remarks during a live segment from New Delhi.
Rubio was due to visit Reliance Industries' oil refining complex in Jamnagar, in the western state of Gujarat, CNA reported. The broadcaster described the facility as the world's largest oil refining complex.
He planned talks with the company about processing Venezuelan oil, CNA reported. Rubio called India a “refining superpower” and said its ability to process heavy crude could help meet global energy demand as Venezuelan production increased.
Rubio also said India had made progress in shifting its energy imports away from Russian crude, CNA reported. Washington wanted India to increase purchases from both the United States and Venezuela, the broadcaster said.
Energy featured in Rubio's discussions with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday and remained a priority for the refinery visit, CNA reported. The visit focused on expanding economic cooperation and commercial investment, the US State Department said.
Reliance is among the largest buyers of Venezuelan crude outside the United States, CNA reported. Its Jamnagar complex also has capacity to export refined fuel, the broadcaster said.
US President Donald Trump had announced that Reliance was investing in an American refinery, CNA reported. The company had not confirmed that investment, the broadcaster said.
Rubio acknowledged that sanctions and tariffs had strained relations with India, CNA reported. He said those measures formed part of the Trump administration's broader effort to push Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
The measures did not target India alone, Rubio said, according to CNA. Trump waived potential tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil last week, including India, which CNA described as one of Moscow's largest customers.
India has defended its Russian oil purchases as necessary to keep its economy running, CNA reported. The broadcaster also said India had expressed frustration over changing US policies affecting purchases from Iran, Venezuela and Russia.
Rubio gave no firm signing date in the remarks CNA relayed. The coverage supplied no agreement on future Indian oil purchases or commitment from Reliance to process additional Venezuelan crude.
