Venezuela’s Oil Output, Jamnagar’s Refining Capacity in Focus as Rubio Discusses Iran, Anti-India Sentiment and US-India Trade Deal

Venezuela is increasing its energy production, India has the capacity to refine some of its crude, and Reliance Industries has invested in refining capacity in the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sees an opportunity to bring these pieces together — and his planned visit to Reliance’s Jamnagar refinery in Gujarat is aimed at exploring how the two countries can work more closely on energy.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Rubio said Reliance’s extraordinary refining capacity made the company an important partner in discussions on energy cooperation between India and the United States.

“Venezuela is increasing its production of energy, and India has had a long history of being able to refine some of that,” Rubio said, explaining the rationale behind his planned visit to Reliance’s operations in Jamnagar.

He also highlighted Reliance’s investments in expanding refining capacity in the US, saying closer cooperation could benefit both countries, particularly when it came to energy supplies from the Western Hemisphere that could be refined in India.

Petroleum, Rubio said, was of little use without the capacity to refine it into usable products. He added that cooperation with Reliance could help India diversify its energy supplies while creating opportunities for the US.

His remarks put energy security and refining capacity at the centre of his India visit, against the backdrop of broader discussions on trade, tariffs and geopolitical tensions.

India-US trade deal could be weeks away

Rubio also indicated that an India-US trade agreement was close to completion, saying negotiations had reached the stage of resolving technical details.

“I think we are down to some technical details that need to be worked out,” he said, adding that an agreement was expected “in a matter of weeks, not months”.

Rubio clarified that the negotiations were being conducted through the US Trade Representative, although he had been closely following the process.

Asked whether India could secure better tariff rates than other countries, he said the purpose of a trade agreement was to improve existing terms. However, he stressed that the deal would need to benefit both countries to remain sustainable in the long term.

He acknowledged that India and the US would continue to defend their respective national interests but argued that their shared interests and close relationship could help bridge differences.

Russian oil sanctions pose a balancing challenge

Addressing concerns over US tariffs and sanctions targeting countries buying Russian oil, Rubio said such measures had consequences beyond Russia, affecting countries and businesses that continued to trade with Moscow.

He said Washington had to balance pressure over the war in Ukraine against the broader economic impact of sanctions.

Referring to a recently passed congressional bill proposing increased tariffs and sanctions on countries doing business with Russia, Rubio said President Donald Trump had invoked a national security waiver to avoid immediately implementing the measures.

Rubio expressed hope that progress on a trade agreement with India could help resolve some of the tensions in the bilateral relationship.

Rubio rejects claims of widespread anti-India sentiment

On concerns over anti-Indian hostility and an alleged plot to attack a Hindu temple in Illinois, Rubio said he did not believe anti-Indian sentiment was widespread or deeply rooted in American society.

He acknowledged, however, that incidents motivated by hatred and ignorance occurred in the US, as they did elsewhere. Citing an attack against the Sikh community in Wisconsin, he said local communities had rallied in support of those targeted.

Rubio also described rising antisemitism in the US as disturbing, adding that authorities had a responsibility not to encourage, excuse or ignore hostility towards minority communities.

Pakistan engagement remains part of US foreign policy

Asked whether Washington's position on Pakistan had changed, Rubio reiterated that the US opposed terrorism and those who sponsored it.

However, he said his role as Secretary of State required maintaining diplomatic relationships, including with countries with which Washington had disagreements.

He cited Pakistan's nuclear weapons capability and geographical importance as reasons for continued engagement, comparing the situation with India's need to maintain relations with countries such as Iran.

Rubio suggested that maintaining communication with Islamabad could also help Washington discourage actions that concern New Delhi.

On Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

Rubio accused Tehran of targeting commercial shipping and said Washington would continue applying economic pressure. He acknowledged that attacks had damaged vessels and resulted in the deaths of sailors, including Indians, underlining the risks to maritime security.