Rubio, Jaishankar, and UAE Minister Hold Trilateral Energy and Trade Talks in Mumbai

UPDATE - follow-up to Rubio pushes for India to buy more U.S., Venezuelan oil: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai on Oct 20, 2026, to press Indian oil purchases and to move a stalled U.S.–India free‑trade agreement forward.

What Happened

Rubio called India a “refining superpower” and said he discussed possible Indian purchases of U.S. crude. He also outlined a plan for more Venezuelan oil to be refined at Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Energy plant in Jamnagar. Jaishankar described the trilateral meeting as a useful exchange on energy, connectivity and contemporary developments. Ambassador Sergio Gor added that the United States, India and the UAE have real opportunities to deepen cooperation on energy, trade, technology and regional connectivity. The readouts did not mention the I2U2 grouping or the India‑Middle East Economic Corridor.

Reactions

Rubio said India and the United States are “very, very close” to finishing the free‑trade pact, with only a small number of items left. He welcomed India’s progress in diversifying oil sources, noting that Russian crude now makes up about 45‑50 % of India’s intake while U.S. and Venezuelan supplies could grow. He also pointed out that Jaishankar has visited the United States four times this year, underscoring the strategic weight of the relationship.

Context

The talks come amid broader tensions over U.S. visa policies, past threats of sanctions on Russian oil imports, and the UAE’s energy‑export challenges linked to the conflict in Iran.