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India great partner, ready to expand energy cooperation: Rubio

admin — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:19:00 +0000

Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press before boarding his plane at Homestead Air Reserve Base on May 21, 2026
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday (May 21, 2026) that the U.S. was in talks with India to expand energy cooperation, an issue that would feature in his discussions during a visit to New Delhi.

“Well, we want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy. And obviously, you’ve seen I think we’re at historic levels of U.S. production, and U.S. export,” Mr. Rubio told reporters in Miami as he embarked on the trip to Sweden and India.

Mr. Rubio will be in India from May 23-26 and will visit Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi.

“We want to be able to do more. We were already in talks with them to do more. We want them to be a bigger part of their portfolio. We also think there are opportunities with Venezuelan oil,” Mr. Rubio said.

He was responding to a question about India being affected by high energy prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Rubio described India as a “great partner” and said his visit to New Delhi was important as it would also allow him to meet with ministers from the Quad nations.

“They are a great ally, a great partner. We do a lot of good work with them. And so it is an important trip. I’m glad we’re able to do it because I think there’ll be a lot for us to talk about,” Mr. Rubio said.

“We’ll also meet with Quad there, which is important. I think my first meeting as Secretary of State was with the Quad. I’m glad we can do it now in India and we’re going to do one later in the year as well,” Mr. Rubio said.

Mr. Rubio said the acting President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, was also scheduled to visit India next week, and there will be many opportunities to work with New Delhi.

“In fact, it’s my understanding that the interim president of Venezuela will be travelling to India next week as well. So, there’s opportunities. There’s a lot to work on with India,” he said.

Published – May 21, 2026 10:49 pm IST

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Trump’s list of nations whose immigrants receive welfare in U.S. does not mention India

admin — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:12:00 +0000

Data has shown that Indian-Americans have among the highest median household incomes among major ethnic groups in the U.S. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (January 4, 2025) posted a list of several countries, including Pakistan, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh and Nepal, to highlight rates of welfare and assistance received by immigrants from those countries in the U.S., a compilation that does not include India.

The ‘Immigrant Welfare Recipient Rates by Country of Origin’ list includes about 120 nations and territories around the world, whose immigrants in the U.S. receive assistance. India is not on the list.

The chart, posted by Mr. Trump on Truth Social, highlights the immigrants’ country of birth and the percentage of immigrant households receiving assistance.

The list includes Bangladesh, with 54.8% of immigrant households from that country receiving assistance, Pakistan (40.2%), Nepal (34.8%), China (32.9%), and Israel/Palestine (25.9%), Ukraine 42.7% and Asia (not elsewhere classified/not specified) 38.8%.

Data has shown that Indian-Americans have among the highest median household incomes among major ethnic groups in the U.S.

Fear, uncertainty grip Indian students amidst Trump’s immigration crackdown

According to the Pew Research Centre, Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian origin population living in the U.S., accounting for approximately 21% of the country’s Asian population.

The median annual income of Indian-headed households was $151,200 in 2023.

Among Asian-headed households overall, it was $105,600. Households with an Indian immigrant household head had a higher median annual income than those with a U.S.-born Indian household head ($156,000 vs. $120,200).

The median annual personal earnings of Indian Americans ages 16 and older were $85,300 in 2023, higher than among Asians overall ($52,400), according to Pew data.

Published – January 05, 2026 03:42 am IST

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Trump’s list of nations whose immigrants receive welfare in U.S. does not mention India

admin — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 22:12:00 +0000

Data has shown that Indian-Americans have among the highest median household incomes among major ethnic groups in the U.S. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The chart, posted by Mr. Trump on Truth Social, highlights the immigrants’ country of birth and the percentage of immigrant households receiving assistance.

Data has shown that Indian-Americans have among the highest median household incomes among major ethnic groups in the U.S.

Fear, uncertainty grip Indian students amidst Trump’s immigration crackdown

According to the Pew Research Centre, Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian origin population living in the U.S., accounting for approximately 21% of the country’s Asian population.

The median annual income of Indian-headed households was $151,200 in 2023.

The median annual personal earnings of Indian Americans ages 16 and older were $85,300 in 2023, higher than among Asians overall ($52,400), according to Pew data.

Published – January 05, 2026 03:42 am IST

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U.S. looking to expand strategic relationship with Pakistan, but not at expense of ties with India: Rubio

admin — Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:06:00 +0000

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to the press ahead of his trip to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

The U.S. sees an opportunity to expand its strategic relationship with Pakistan but it will not be at the expense of its historic and important ties with India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.

Ahead of his meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Kuala Lumpur on Monday (October 27, 2025), Mr. Rubio, referring to India’s energy ties with Russia, said New Delhi has already expressed a desire to diversify its procurement of crude oil.

The U.S. Secretary of State was interacting with journalists ahead of his trip to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit.

Mr. Rubio, to a question on the U.S.’ ties with Pakistan, said New Delhi is “concerned for obvious reasons” and that Washington’s relationship with Islamabad will not be at the expense of the ties with New Delhi.

“But, I think they (India) have to understand we have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan,” he said.

“I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. Look, they have some relationships with countries that we don’t have relationships with. So, it’s part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy,” he said.

“I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important,” Mr. Rubio added.

The U.S.-Pakistan ties have witnessed an upswing in the last six months, especially after President Donald Trump’s meeting with Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir following the military conflict between India and Pakistan in May.

While India rejected Mr. Trump’s repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between the two countries, Pakistan credited the U.S. President for ending the hostilities between the two countries.

On India-Russia oil trade

To another question on if India will be willing to really shove off its purchases of Russian oil for a trade deal with the U.S., Mr. Rubio said New Delhi has already expressed an interest in diversifying its oil portfolio.

“If they diversified their portfolio, the more they buy it from us, the more they’ll buy it from someone else. But I wouldn’t prejudge or — I’m not negotiating trade deals. So I’m not going to speak on that,” he said.

“But I know they’ve (India) already expressed a desire to diversify their oil portfolio, even before all of this came up. So, obviously the more we sell them, the less they’ll buy from someone else. And, but, we’ll see where we wind up on all that,” he said.

Published – October 26, 2025 07:36 pm IST

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Trump claims Modi has assured him India will not buy Russian oil

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 20:32:00 +0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday (October 15, 2025) that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured him India will not buy Russian oil.

“So I was not happy that India was buying oil, and he assured me today that they will not be buying oil from Russia. That’s a big step. Now we’re going to get China to do the same thing,” Mr. Trump told reporters.

Published – October 16, 2025 02:02 am IST

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2 Indian nationals face U.S. sanctions for aiding Iran’s LPG trade

admin — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:41:00 +0000

US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent. File
| Photo Credit: AFP

The U.S. has sanctioned more than 50 entities, individuals and vessels for allegedly facilitating Iranian energy sales, according to an official statement.

Two Indian nationals are the among those facing the sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Thursday (October 9, 2025).

“These actors have collectively enabled the export of billions of dollars’ worth of petroleum and petroleum products, providing critical revenue to the Iranian regime and its support for terrorist groups that threaten the United States,” the department said in a press release.

The sanctions are part of the department’s efforts to curb Iran’s petroleum and petrochemical exports. “The Treasury Department is degrading Iran’s cash flow by dismantling key elements of Iran’s energy export machine,” it said, quoting Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent.

One of the Indian nationals sanctioned is Varun Pula, who owns Marshall Islands-based Bertha Shipping Inc., which owns and operates Comoros-flagged vessel PAMIR. The vessel has transported nearly four million barrels of Iranian LPG to China since July 2024, according to the U.S. statement.

The other Indian national sanctioned is Soniya Shrestha, who owns Vega Star Ship Management Private Limited. The company owns and operates another Comoros-flagged vessel, NEPTA, which has transported Iranian-origin LPG to Pakistan since January 2025. The statement added that all “property and interests in property of the designated or blocked persons” that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC.

Published – October 10, 2025 11:11 pm IST

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U.S. issues draft notice to implement 50% tariffs on Indian products effective August 27

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 03:54:00 +0000

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a draft notice on the implementation of additional duties on products imported from India, following the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to increase tariffs on Indian goods to 50%.

According to the notice, the additional tariffs are being imposed to give effect to the President’s Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled “Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation.”

The order specified a new rate of duty on imports of articles that are products of India.

The draft notice, scheduled to be published on August 27, 2025, states that the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined it necessary to modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) in line with the executive order.

The CBP further clarified that the new duties will come into effect on August 27, 2025. From 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on that day, the higher tariffs will apply to all products of India that are either entered for consumption in the United States or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption.

Earlier on July 30, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariffs on India. He stated that “Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.”

Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE – ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST 1st. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!”, the U.S. President said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (August 25, 2025) remained firm ahead of the 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, effective August 27, saying his government will find a way out regardless of the economic pressure by Washington.

“No matter how much pressure comes, we will keep increasing our strength to withstand it. Today, the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is getting a lot of energy from Gujarat and behind this are two decades of hard work…,” Mr. Modi said while speaking at a public address in Ahmedabad on Monday (August 25, 2025).

How bad will it be?

The United States was India’s top export destination in 2024, with shipments worth $87.3 billion.

Analysts at Nomura warn that 50% duties would be “akin to a trade embargo”, devastating smaller firms with “lower value add and thinner margins”.

Elara Securities’s Garima Kapoor said no Indian product can “stand any competitive edge” under such heavy import taxes.

Economists estimate tariffs could shave 70 to 100 basis points off India’s GDP growth this fiscal year, dragging growth below six percent, the weakest pace since the pandemic.

Exporters in textiles, seafood and jewellery are already reporting cancelled US orders and losses to rivals such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, raising fears of heavy job cuts.

A small reprieve: pharmaceuticals and electronics, including iPhones assembled in India, are exempt for now.

S&P estimates exports equivalent to 1.2 percent of India’s GDP will be hit, but says it will be a “one-off” shock that “will not derail” the country’s long-term growth prospects.

Will either side blink?

There’s no sign yet. In fact, since the US and Russian presidents met in Alaska, Washington has ramped up criticism of India.

“India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro wrote in the Financial Times earlier this month, slamming the country’s refiners for “profiteering”.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar fired back, arguing India’s purchases helped stabilise global oil markets — and were done with Washington’s tacit approval in 2022.

He argued that both the United States and Europe buy refined oil and associated products from India.

“If you have a problem buying oil from India, oil or refined products, don’t buy it”, he said. “Nobody forced you to buy it — but Europe buys, America buys.”

Mr. Jaishankar said that, until Trump’s ultimatum, there had been “no conversations” asking them to stop buying Moscow’s oil.

Trade trackers at Kpler say India’s stance will become clearer only in September, as most August shipments were contracted before Trump’s threats.

But experts say India is in a tricky situation.

India needs “considerable ingenuity and flexibility” to escape “what appears to be a no-win situation”, said Nandan Unnikrishnan of New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.

What can India do?

New Delhi has sought to bolster its economy while deepening ties with both BRICS partners and regional rivals.

Jaishankar flew to ally Moscow, producing pledges to ease barriers to bilateral trade, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing his first visit to China in seven years to repair long-frosty relations.

Domestically, Indian media reports that the government is working on a $2.8 billion package for exporters, a six-year programme aimed at easing liquidity concerns.

Modi has also proposed tax cuts on everyday goods to spur spending and cushion the economy.

What is blocking a trade deal?

Talks have stumbled over agriculture and dairy.

Mr. Trump wants greater U.S. access, while Modi is determined to shield India’s farmers, a huge voter bloc.

Media reports suggested that U.S. negotiators cancelled a planned late-August trip to India. That sparked speculation that discussions had broken down.

Mr. Jaishankar, however, says talks are continuing, adding drily: “Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said the negotiations are off,” he said. “And people, people do talk to each other.”

Published – August 26, 2025 09:24 am IST

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CNN On PM Modi’s Negotiations With Trump

admin — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:08:24 +0000

Washington DC:

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to the United States and left for New Delhi, the American media was all praises for the manner in which PM Modi dealt with US President Donald Trump, calling it a “masterclass for other leaders around the world”.

PM Modi, who is one of the first few world leaders to meet Donald Trump and hold bilateral talks, was in Washington on the same day as Trump announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on US’ allies and competitors alike.

President Trump, who has called India a “tariff king” and a “massive abuser of tariffs” in the past, said he was “excited” to see PM Modi. “Prime Minister Modi is a great leader,” he said, adding that “We’re going to make some wonderful trade deals for India and the US.”

By the end of the meeting, despite the pressure of Trump’s tariff announcement that same day, PM Modi turned the bilateral meeting into an opportunity. According to the joint statement issued by both nations, the US and India went on to secure significant agreements on trade, energy, defence, security, manufacturing, and technology among others.

Speaking about the manner in which PM Modi dealt with Donald Trump, CNN’s senior journalist Will Ripley said, “I think we have now seen, first with Japanese prime minister Ishiba’s very positive meeting with Trump, and now what apparently is a very positive meeting with Trump and prime minister Narendra Modi – this is a masterclass for other leaders around the world to know how to walk into a negotiation with President Trump.”

He went on to say that “Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi understood the assignment. It could’ve been bad. Prime Minister Modi was in DC on the same day Trump announced dreaded reciprocal tariffs. Despite trade friction, both sides walked away with deliverables on a potential trade deal, energy, military, etc.” he wrote on social media website X.

Indian Prime Minister Modi understood the assignment in his 8th meeting with President Trump. It could’ve been bad. Modi was in DC on the same day Trump announced dreaded reciprocal tariffs. Despite trade friction, both sides walked away with deliverables on a potential trade… pic.twitter.com/73xjKfVP6w

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) February 14, 2025

“By the end of the meeting, we saw that they announced the best possible outcome – that they will fast-track negotiations on a trade deal. India is also getting more US investment in nuclear energy, and also being offered the F-35 (stealth fighter) jets. Both sides came out with gains,” he said.

He also praised PM Modi’s ‘MIGA + MAGA = MEGA – a mega partnership for prosperity’ slogan, saying that “this is exactly the kind of messaging and clever branding that Trump likes to hear”.

Donald Trump also praised PM Modi’s negotiating skills at a press briefing after the two leaders held hour-long bilateral talks where trade for high on the agenda. On being asked by a reporter about who is a tougher negotiator, Donald Trump said, “He (PM Modi) is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest.”

In a joint statement issued by both countries, India and the US have pledged to more than double the two-way trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 and announced plans for a bilateral trade agreement with a view to bring down duties and increase market access in both nations.

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CNN On PM Modi’s Negotiations With Trump

admin — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 19:08:24 +0000

Washington DC:

Indian Prime Minister Modi understood the assignment in his 8th meeting with President Trump. It could’ve been bad. Modi was in DC on the same day Trump announced dreaded reciprocal tariffs. Despite trade friction, both sides walked away with deliverables on a potential trade… pic.twitter.com/73xjKfVP6w

— Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) February 14, 2025

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“Not Even A Contest”: Trump On Who Negotiates Better

admin — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 03:08:07 +0000

Washington DC:

Immediately after their hour-long meeting where US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the entire gamut of India-US bilateral ties, the two leaders held a joint press conference where they took questions from the international media.

With Donald Trump announcing sweeping reciprocal tariffs for all countries as a tit-for-tat trade policy hours before his meeting with PM Modi, one of the questions asked to President Trump was about who is a tougher and better negotiator – him or Prime Minister Modi? To this, the US President swiftly replied “He is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest.”

#WATCH | Washington, DC: US President Donald Trump says, “He (PM Narendra Modi) is a much tougher negotiator than me and he is a much better negotiator than me. There is not even a contest.”

(Video: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/V8EzU0FfE9

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2025

Speaking specifically about reciprocal tariffs, President Trump said that “it is only fair that taxes and tariffs are reciprocal.” Explaining his point he said that over time “many attempts have been made” by the US to reduce tariffs on US exports, “but since that has not worked out, we have now decided to reciprocate in the exact same way – something that has not been done before.”

Trade and tariffs have been a top priority for Donald Trump in his efforts to “make America great again”. On multiple occasions in the past, Trump has said “tariff” is his favourite word in the dictionary and that he is convinced they are key to the revival of the US economy.

Even on Thursday evening (US Eastern Time), Donald Trump said “We (US) have been a great economy, the number one in the world – still is – but, ever since Covid, the economy has been under stress. We will now revive it,” he said while answering another question on tariffs.

The two leaders spoke to the press even before the bilateral talks began. Donald Trump praised PM Modi saying “Prime Minister Modi is a great leader,” adding that “We’re going to make some wonderful trade deals for India and the US.”

Besides trade and tariffs, the two leaders had a detailed discussion on matters concerning regional and global security, the India-US defence partnership, foreign investment, energy, technology, education, visas, and immigration.

PM Modi is one of the first global leaders to travel to the US for an official visit and meet Donald Trump after his electoral win. This is PM Modi’s 10th visit to the United States as prime minister and fourth with Trump as President.

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