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COVER STORY OCTOBER 23, 2026 | The Indian Eye 4

RUBIO’S INDIA VISIT

BUSINESS BEFORE

DIPLOMACY?

As US-India ties come under strain over Russian oil, tariffs and a stalled trade deal, Marco Rubio’s
trip to reveal Washington’s growing preference for commercial bargains over strategic assurances

OUR BUREAU record.
Sachdev linked the potential an-
Mumbai / Washington, DC / New Delhi
nouncement to the US midterm elec-
S Secretary of State Marco tions, pointing to competitive Senate
Rubio’s visit to India comes races, including one in Texas, tradi-
Uat a difficult moment for a re- tionally a Republican stronghold. He
lationship that Washington and New suggested that a Reliance announce-
Delhi have repeatedly described as ment could provide Republican can-
a strategic partnership. Beneath the didates with a message about attract-
diplomatic language about coopera- ing foreign capital and creating jobs.
tion, the two countries are struggling “So, they’re looking to maybe
with tariffs, disagreements over Rus- capture that political benefit of this
sian oil purchases and a trade agree- refinery announcement,” he said, de-
ment that remains elusive. The itiner- scribing the expected outcome as his
ary, which includes Jamnagar, home own assessment rather than a con-
to one of the world’s largest refining firmed agenda.
complexes, suggests that Washington He added that the project could
has a more immediate priority: secur- give Trump and Republican Senate
ing commercial outcomes that can candidate Ken Paxton talking points
demonstrate tangible benefits to the about investment and employment.
United States. The visit could therefore serve two
The most consequential ob- purposes simultaneously: strengthen
jective may be to advance Reliance economic engagement with India and
Industries’ proposed investment in produce a domestic political deliver-
a refinery in Brownsville, Texas, an able for the Trump administration.
initiative announced by US Presi- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold talks with EAM Dr S Jaishankar in Mumbai (ANI) That possibility does not mean
dent Donald Trump in March under the diplomatic agenda is merely a
the banner of “America First Refin- remains important, but major cor- inence of Jamnagar in the itinerary. cover for a corporate transaction. It
ing”. Foreign affairs expert Robinder porate investments may offer Wash- Sachdev said Trump had announced does, however, underline how Wash-
Sachdev believes Rubio’s visit could ington a more immediate return than a $300 billion partnership with Reli- ington may be measuring the rela-
be designed to secure an official an- difficult negotiations over market ac- ance, but cautioned that the headline tionship increasingly through deals
nouncement on the project, giving cess, tariffs and energy policy. figure should not be confused with that can be quantified and publicly
Trump a business achievement to The commercial calculation the investment in the refinery itself. promoted.
promote at home while negotiations “That $300 billion number is a Russian oil complicates the
with India remain unresolved. ubio will visit Mumbai and very large number. It’s not the invest- partnership
“I do not expect, I do not know Jamnagar, meet senior Indian ment into the refinery; it’s about $5
what progress there can be on the Rofficials and engage business billion, whatever it may be,” he said. he commercial emphasis
US-India trade deal,” Sachdev told leaders. The US State Department The distinction matters. The comes against the backdrop of
ANI. “But by all intents and purpos- has described enhanced energy coop- political value of an investment an- TWashington’s pressure on In-
es, I think this visit of Secretary Ru- eration and commercial investment nouncement can be much larger than dia over its purchases of Russian en-
bio is to finalise and have an official as key elements of the trip. External the amount of capital committed to a ergy. The latest development has ex-
announcement from Reliance that Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will particular facility, particularly in an posed the tension between the Trump
it will be investing in this refinery in hold talks with Rubio in Mumbai on election campaign. A refinery proj- administration’s desire to punish
Texas.” October 20. ect can be presented as evidence of Moscow and its need to avoid dis-
His assessment points to a po- The proposed Brownsville refin- new industrial capacity, construction rupting energy markets or damaging
tential shift in the balance of the ery investment provides a possible activity and employment, helping the relations with major trading partners.
relationship. Strategic cooperation explanation for the unusual prom- administration defend its economic Continued on next page... >>

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