US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil is “certainly a point of irritation” in ties with Washington—but far from the only one.
Speaking to Fox Radio, Rubio remarked that India’s energy deals with Moscow are helping sustain Russia’s war in Ukraine. “India has huge energy demands and buys oil, coal, and gas like every nation does. But Russian oil is under sanctions, sold cheap, and unfortunately that’s helping fund the war,” he said.
He added that US President Joe Biden is frustrated that India continues to buy Russian oil despite having access to other suppliers. However, Rubio emphasised that this is not the only strain in India–US relations. Trade has long been a sticking point—especially India’s refusal to open its agricultural and dairy markets, a key demand from Washington in ongoing negotiations.
The US has been pushing for greater market access for a range of goods, including genetically modified crops, dairy, corn, soybeans, apples, almonds, and ethanol. India has resisted, arguing that such imports could devastate the incomes of its small and marginal farmers—over 80 million dairy farmers and hundreds of millions in rural areas.
India has also pushed back against tariff cuts on staples like rice and wheat and remains firm on excluding GM crops from its markets.
Beyond agriculture, the US is seeking wider access to the Indian market in sectors like automobiles, medical devices, alcoholic beverages, pharmaceuticals, and digital services. It is also urging India to relax non-tariff barriers, data storage rules, and intellectual property regulations.
Despite these challenges, Rubio noted that cooperation between the two countries continues across several areas. “There are many points of cooperation with India,” he said, even as both sides try to balance strategic ties with tough trade realities.
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