Marco Rubio's India visit begins from Sat as New Delhi awaits US decision on Russian oil import waiver

New Delhi: US secretary of state Marco Rubio will visit Mumbai and Jamnagar from October 17-22, with energy cooperation and investments expected to dominate his conversations with Indian officials and business leaders.

India is awaiting a US decision on a potential waiver to import Russian oil. The issue has assumed significance after the deal between the presidents of the US and Russia on diesel supplies from Russia to the US.

Rubio will meet senior government officials to "strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation", the US State Department said while announcing his visit.


The secretary of state will also meet business leaders "to promote opportunities for commercial investment and economic cooperation", the department said.

In Mumbai, Rubio will also attend celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.

While President Donald Trump holds the final authority on India's sanctions waivers, Rubio was instrumental in helping India secure a previous exemption from the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act for buying Russian S-400 missiles.

ET had reported on Monday that Trump's decision to purchase Russian diesel, despite threatening to impose up to 100% tariffs on India for buying Russian oil, may not explicitly violate the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA).

The US administration has yet to take a decision on any waiver for India, although President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were said to have had a productive and constructive phone call on September 30.