MUMBAI — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington and New Delhi were close to finalizing a trade agreement, expressing optimism that the deal could be concluded soon as the two countries seek to strengthen economic, energy and strategic cooperation.
“We’re about as close as you can be without having executed the agreement,” Rubio told reporters in Mumbai. He said only a small number of issues remained to be resolved and expressed hope that an announcement could come shortly, followed by the signing of the agreement.
Rubio described India as an important commercial and strategic partner of the United States, highlighting its position as the world’s most populous country and largest democracy. He also pointed to bilateral defense cooperation and India’s role in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, known as the Quad, which includes the United States, India, Japan and Australia.
The proposed trade agreement remains a key issue in relations between the two countries, which have faced disagreements over U.S. tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian oil. Rubio said the State Department does not directly negotiate trade agreements but remains closely involved in the discussions.
The secretary also addressed concerns over U.S. support for Ukraine, saying he had spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for 45 minutes earlier Tuesday. Rubio rejected reports that President Donald Trump had ordered changes to intelligence sharing with Kyiv or deliberately withheld assistance from Ukraine.
“The President made it very clear he’s ordered no such changes,” Rubio said, referring to intelligence sharing.
However, Rubio acknowledged that a shipment of air-defense interceptors purchased by European countries for Ukraine under the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, program might not yet have been delivered. He said such transfers are reviewed against competing defense requirements and the need to protect American military installations and personnel in Europe and the Middle East.
“There’s nothing being deliberately denied to Ukraine,” Rubio said, arguing that the United States must balance its commitments to Kyiv with the needs of other partners and its own defense requirements.
He said interceptors were among the most sought-after weapons in the world, but their sophisticated technology, high production costs and lengthy manufacturing process limited the speed at which supplies could be expanded. Rubio added that U.S. production was increasing.
Rubio also said Washington was examining reports of possible technical problems affecting Ukraine’s ability to process and respond to advance warnings of Russian attacks on October 13 and October 18. He said the reported difficulties were understood to be technical rather than the result of a U.S. decision to withhold intelligence.
The secretary acknowledged tensions between Washington and Kyiv, saying Trump was frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations to end the war. He reiterated that the administration wanted both sides to reach a negotiated settlement, citing continuing casualties, damage to Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure and the risk of escalation. Rubio also raised concerns about attacks affecting energy infrastructure and commercial shipping, including incidents involving American business interests. He said the broader impact of conflicts on global fuel supplies had become a growing concern for governments around the world.
Energy security was a central issue in Rubio’s discussions about India. He said Indian companies could help increase the processing of Venezuelan crude oil, noting that India has substantial refining capacity and experience handling heavy crude. Rubio said he planned to visit Reliance Industries’ refinery complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on Wednesday and discuss opportunities involving Venezuelan oil. The company has the technical capability to refine heavy crude, a characteristic of much of Venezuela’s oil production.
He said additional Venezuelan supplies could provide some relief to global energy markets, although they would not fully offset disruptions elsewhere. Rubio added that existing U.S. sanctions-related restrictions concerning Venezuela would need to be considered as the two sides explored possible arrangements.
The secretary emphasized that energy security depends not only on oil production but also on refining capacity, transportation and access to affordable fuel. Disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabian pipelines and the Russia-Ukraine war have added pressure to global supplies, he said.
Rubio welcomed India’s efforts to diversify its energy sources, describing a broader energy portfolio as beneficial to the country and its international partnerships. Asked about India’s purchases of Russian oil, he said New Delhi had made substantial progress in diversifying its supplies but acknowledged that shifting away from a major source could not happen overnight. He said a strong U.S.-India partnership and a more diverse Indian energy supply could serve the interests of both countries.
Rubio also expressed support for the possibility of a summit involving the United States, Russia and China to discuss nuclear issues and arms control. He argued that communication among the world’s three leading nuclear powers would benefit international security, even if major disagreements remained unresolved.
“The world is a safer place when the leaders of the most powerful nuclear arsenals in the world are at least communicating with one another,” Rubio said. He acknowledged uncertainty about whether Beijing would agree to arms-control discussions but said the effort was worth pursuing. He argued that diplomatic engagement should not be viewed as a concession and that negotiations require communication between opposing sides.
Rubio’s remarks highlighted the range of issues confronting U.S. foreign policy, from efforts to finalize a trade agreement with India and strengthen energy cooperation to managing military support for Ukraine and exploring dialogue among the world’s leading nuclear powers.