US energy products can help diversify India’s energy supply, Rubio tells PM Modi

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his meeting with Prime Minister PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday said Washington would not allow Iran to hold the global energy market lsquohostagersquo and underscored that US energy products could help diversify Indiarsquos energy supply according to the US State DepartmentIn a statement Tommy Pigott spokesperson for the US State Department said Rubio and PM Modi discussed the West Asia conflict and reviewed recent bilateral gains including major investments aligned with the President and Prime Ministerrsquos ldquoMission 500rdquo target to double trade by 2030 news agency IANS reportedPigott said Rubio highlighted the strategic importance of the USIndia partnership which he noted is built on shared democratic values strong economic and commercial opportunities and the personal ties between President Trump and PM ModildquoIn New Delhi I met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to underscore the importance of the USIndia relationship We discussed the situation in the Middle East and USIndia partnership in energy securing critical supply chains and collaboration on emerging technologies I was pleased to invite Prime Minister Modi to the White House on behalf of the Presidentrdquo Rubio posted on X after the meetingIn New Delhi I met with Indian Prime Minister narendramodi to underscore the importance of the USIndia relationship We discussed the situation in the Middle East and USIndia partnership in energy securing critical supply chains and collaboration on emerginghellip pictwittercomehdaVlrwkSmdash Secretary Marco Rubio SecRubio May 23 2026The US Secretary of State also extended an invitation on behalf of President Trump to PM Modi to visit the White HousePigott said the two leaders agreed to deepen trade and defence cooperation and accelerate collaboration on critical and emerging technologiesPM Modi reiterates support for peaceful resolution of conflictsRubio also expressed appreciation for India hosting the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministersrsquo Meeting and said he looked forward to advancing a free and open IndoPacific region alongside Australia India and JapanThe US Secretary of State met PM Modi soon after arriving in New Delhi After the meeting PM Modi said India and the United States US would continue to work closely for the global goodldquoHappy to receive the US Secretary of State Mr Marco Rubio We discussed sustained progress in the IndiaUS Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global goodrdquo PM Modi wrote on XThe Prime Ministerrsquos Office said Rubio briefed Modi on the sustained progress in bilateral cooperation across several sectors including defence strategic technologies trade and investment energy security connectivity education and peopletopeople tiesldquoSecretary Rubio shared US perspective on various regional and global issues including the situation in West Asia Prime Minister reaffirmed Indias consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacyrdquo the PMO said in a statement after the meetingldquoPrime Minister requested Secretary Rubio to convey his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to their continued exchangesrdquo it addedUS envoy Sergio Gor calls India a lsquovital partnerrsquoUS Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also said on X that the two sides had a ldquoproductive discussionrdquo on deepening cooperation across multiple sectorsHe described India as a ldquovital partnerrdquo for the USldquoGreat to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen USIndia cooperation across security trade and critical technologies areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open IndoPacific India is a vital partner to the United Statesrdquo Gor posted on XIn another post he added ldquoNews Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invite on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near futurerdquoEarlier in the day Rubio arrived in Kolkata beginning his fourday visit to India He was received by Ambassador Gor at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International AirportAccompanied by his wife Jeanette the US Secretary of State visited Mother House the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in KolkataRubiorsquos India visit seen as key for Quad talks energy cooperation and strengthening strategic tiesRubiorsquos India itinerary scheduled from Sunday May 23 to Tuesday May 26 and also covering Agra Jaipur and New Delhi is being seen as diplomatically significant because of planned energy discussions with India and meetings involving ministers from Quad nationsIndia is set to host the Quad Foreign Ministersrsquo Meeting in New Delhi on May 26 At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Penny Wong and Toshimitsu Motegi Australian and the foreign ministers of Australia and Japan respectively will also be in India for the meeting along with RubioAhead of his India visit Rubio said Washington wanted to expand energy ties with New Delhi and deepen coordination through the Quad while describing India as a ldquogreat allyrdquo and ldquogreat partnerrdquo amid supply disruptions linked to the Strait of HormuzThe Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that Rubiorsquos visit would further strengthen the IndiaUSA Comprehensive Global Strategic PartnershipWith IANS inputs