India Is a Friend, But Not a Fully Aligned Ally: U.S. Secretary of State – Marco Rubio
- Update Time : 11:31:09 am, Friday, 1 August 2025
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Despite a relationship spanning more than seven decades, India has yet to become a fully aligned ally of the United States in the realm of international trade, according to U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio.
His remarks came a day after President Donald Trump imposed a 25% export tariff on Indian goods. Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Rubio addressed concerns over India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil.
“India is a friend and a strategic partner, but not yet a 100% ally,” Rubio told Fox News. “There are still several actions and policies on India’s part that frustrate the United States, especially in the trade and energy sectors.”
Rubio pointed to India’s reliance on discounted energy imports from Russia as a point of contention. “India is a large economy with significant energy needs — oil, gas, coal — and it has the capacity to buy from global markets at prevailing prices,” he said.
“However, instead of diversifying its sources, India continues to rely heavily on Russian crude, taking advantage of lower prices due to sanctions. In some cases, that oil is even resold at higher prices in global markets,” he added.
Rubio’s comments underscore growing U.S. frustration over India’s energy strategy, which Washington sees as undermining broader sanctions efforts and reflecting a divergence in long-term strategic alignment.
