Marco Rubio To Visit India, Uzbekistan From October 17-22; Jamnagar Refinery On Agenda

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India and Uzbekistan from October 17 to 22 to strengthen strategic ties, promote commercial investment and explore opportunities for expanded energy cooperation, the US Department of State said on Tuesday.

Rubio will travel first to Samarkand in Uzbekistan before visiting Mumbai and Jamnagar in India. During his India visit, he will meet senior government officials to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global developments, and discuss ways to deepen energy cooperation.

He will also meet business leaders to promote commercial investment and expand economic engagement, according to the State Department.

Why Is Rubio’s Jamnagar Visit Significant?

Rubio’s planned visit to Jamnagar is significant because the city houses Reliance Industries’ refinery complex, the world’s largest single-site refining facility, with the capacity to process around 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day.

The visit comes amid broader discussions on US-India energy cooperation and investment in the oil sector.

In March, US President Donald Trump announced plans for a new oil refinery in Brownsville, Texas, with investment from Reliance Industries. Trump said the project would cost $300 billion and would be the first new US oil refinery in 50 years.

Rubio’s meetings in India are expected to focus on strengthening the broader strategic and commercial relationship between the two countries, including energy cooperation.

Rubio To Attend C5+1 Ministerial In Uzbekistan

Before travelling to India, Rubio will participate in the C5+1 Ministerial in Samarkand, a diplomatic platform bringing together the United States and five Central Asian countries.

The meeting will focus on how strategic cooperation can support a more peaceful and prosperous future for the United States and the region.

“In Uzbekistan, Secretary Rubio will participate in the C5+1 Ministerial to highlight how strategic cooperation through this diplomatic platform promotes a more peaceful and prosperous future for the United States and the countries of Central Asia,” the State Department said.

Rubio will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic.

US Commercial Delegation To Accompany Rubio

A US commercial delegation comprising more than 200 business leaders will accompany Rubio during the Central Asia leg of his trip, underscoring Washington’s efforts to expand commercial ties with the region.

The visit is expected to provide opportunities to discuss investment, trade and strategic cooperation with Central Asian governments.

Rubio’s October tour will therefore combine diplomatic engagement in Central Asia with efforts to strengthen the United States’ strategic partnership with India, particularly in areas such as energy, investment and regional security.