Geostrategist Brahma Chellaney asserts that a primary United States objective is to weaken the Indo-Russian relationship, largely by influencing India's energy sourcing. His comments follow US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's two-day visit to India, during which he met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and toured Reliance's Jamnagar refinery.
Rubio's Visit and Energy Diplomacy
Chellaney highlighted that while Rubio framed India's efforts to diversify its energy portfolio as a "smart thing to do," Washington's underlying goal is to encourage India to substitute Russian oil with US crude and US-controlled Venezuelan oil. Rubio specifically sought for the world’s largest oil-refining complex in Jamnagar to process more Venezuelan crude.
During his visit, Rubio aimed to boost India's purchases of US energy, including liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), where the US has already become India's largest supplier. Furthermore, Washington's urging has reportedly made India the largest destination for Venezuelan oil exports, with revenues deposited into a US Treasury-controlled account.
The Strategic Importance of Jamnagar
Rubio's visit to Reliance Industries' Jamnagar complex underscores its strategic importance. The facility, capable of processing approximately 1.4 million barrels of crude per day, supplies diesel and other refined products globally. Its ability to handle diverse crude grades is crucial to Washington's efforts to increase Indian purchases of Venezuelan oil.
Despite these overtures, Russian crude constituted about a third of Jamnagar's feedstock in July-September 2026. Analysts suggest that any significant shift in sourcing will depend on factors such as crude prices, freight costs, refinery requirements, and the availability of alternative supplies.
Broader Cooperation and Future Prospects
Discussions during Rubio's visit also covered the global energy landscape, conventional and new energy sources, resilient supply chains, and technological advancements. Rubio expressed Washington's desire for closer cooperation with Reliance in refining energy from the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing mutual benefits.
The visit also drew attention to Reliance's proposed 168,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Brownsville, Texas, being developed by America First Refining. This project, designed to process US-produced light shale crude, could become the first major new US refinery in nearly five decades, with Reliance having a long-term agreement to purchase its refined products.