U.S. State Secretary Rubio to visit India for energy talks next week; visit to Jamnagar on cards

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will journey to India next week to bolster energy cooperation between the two nations, according to the U.S. Department of State, which announced the visit on October 13, 2026. Rubio's itinerary will commence in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, before proceeding to Mumbai and Jamnagar, India, from October 17 to 22. This marks Rubio's second visit to India since May, when he participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.

During his stay, Rubio will engage with senior government officials to fortify the U.S.-India strategic partnership, exchange insights on regional and global affairs, and explore opportunities for increased energy cooperation. Additionally, the Secretary of State will meet with business leaders to promote prospects for commercial investment and economic collaboration.

Jamnagar, a city renowned for hosting Reliance's refinery—the world's largest single-site facility with the capacity to process 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day—will be a focal point of Rubio's visit. In March, President Donald Trump announced plans to construct the United States' first refinery in 50 years, with investment from Reliance Industries, in Brownsville, Texas, at an estimated cost of $300 billion.

In Samarkand, Rubio will engage in the C5+1 Ministerial, emphasizing the significance of strategic cooperation through this diplomatic platform in fostering a more peaceful and prosperous future for the United States and Central Asian countries. The Secretary will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic.

A U.S. commercial delegation comprising over 200 business leaders will accompany Rubio, signifying a new era of intensified commercial cooperation between the United States and Central Asia.