US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits India Amid Global Energy Crisis, Eyes Diesel Diplomacy

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting India at a critical time. This is a time when the US is openly playing diesel diplomacy in the midst of a global energy crisis. Diesel prices in the country hit record highs ahead of midterm elections in the US. Global supply disruptions and attacks on Russian refineries have worsened the situation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in India and describes India in Mumbai as a "refining superpower." Significantly, this is the same US that has repeatedly challenged India's energy autonomy. Sometimes through sanctions, sometimes through tariffs. On October 21, Rubio is visiting Reliance's world's largest refinery in Jamnagar. This refinery processes about 1.4 million barrels of crude oil daily. Is Rubio's visit to India aimed at refining Venezuela's heavy crude oil in India and boosting Indian diesel exports? The US is also trying to strengthen its strategic partnership with Reliance through trade negotiations and strategic trade deals.