US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the long-pending India-US trade deal is “incredibly close” and could be announced within weeks, even as he defended Washington’s delicate balancing act on Russian oil sanctions, during an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi in Mumbai.
Rubio, on his second visit to India in a few months, said negotiations have narrowed to technical details, with both sides working to ensure the language means the same thing. While he is not personally negotiating the pact, which is being handled by the US Trade Representative, he expressed confidence it would be finalised “in a matter of weeks, not months.” He added that for a deal to be sustainable, it must be good for both sides, noting that every country defends its national interests but friendship allows differences to be bridged.
On Russian oil imports, a key friction point, Rubio acknowledged that sanctions “aren’t just on Russia” but affect anyone doing business with it. He revealed that President Donald Trump used a national security waiver to avoid immediately implementing a Congress-passed bill that called for higher tariffs on countries still trading with Moscow, despite criticism from Democrats. The US itself has been buying Russian diesel to cool pump prices ahead of the midterms, a shift Joshi flagged. Rubio said these issues could be resolved alongside a trade agreement.
Addressing concerns over anti-India hate following a foiled attack on a Hindu temple in Illinois, Rubio said he does not believe anti-Indian sentiment in America is “widespread or deep,” though he conceded some individuals are ignorant or hateful. He praised how communities rally together, citing past solidarity with the Sikh community in Wisconsin, and stressed that those in authority must never excuse such acts.
On Pakistan, Rubio said that as Secretary of State he must manage relationships even with countries with which the US disagrees, pointing out that Islamabad is nuclear-armed and strategically located, much as India maintains ties with Iran. He suggested American engagement with Pakistan could help discourage actions India worries about.
On Iran, Rubio accused Tehran of employing “Nazi U-boat tactics” by openly targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, revealing that Indian sailors are among those killed in strikes. He said US forces destroy the overwhelming majority of Iranian drones and missiles nightly and vowed continued economic pressure on Tehran.
Rubio also expressed hope that a Quad leaders’ summit would be held before the end of this year at the ASEAN conference in Manila, though a specific date is yet to be announced. Recalling that his first meeting as Secretary of State was a Quad ministerial with Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, he said the two have met at least a dozen times and built a solid working relationship. He said the summit would announce concrete deliverables rather than serve as a mere social gathering.
His visit concludes in Jamnagar, where he will meet Reliance, which he described as one of the few Indian companies to have invested in American refining capacity, with potential for closer cooperation on energy from the Western Hemisphere, including Venezuelan crude.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/marco-rubio-exclusive-qa-trade-deal-russian-oil-and-the-future-of-india-us-ties-14054157.html
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Publish Date: 2026-10-21 05:58:00
