Rubio says US to discuss Venezuelan oil production with Ambani's Reliance Industries

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday the United States will be discussing with Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries, about refining more Venezuelan crude.

Describing India as a “refining superpower”, Rubio said the country had the capability to process heavy crude and could play a role in meeting global energy demand as more Venezuelan oil comes online.

“India is a refining superpower. They have the capability to refine heavy crude. They've done so in the past, and I think as more and more Venezuelan oil comes online, it's something they can do,” Rubio told journalists after arriving in Mumbai.

The US will further talk with Reliance regarding producing oil in Venezuela, Rubio told journalists after landing in Mumbai.

Rubio strated his three-day visit to India after landing in Mumbai on Tuesday, with talks expected to be focussed on progressing cooperation in fields of trade, energy, investment, defence and criticial technologies, while concerns remain around the ongoing war in the Middle East.

This is Rubio's second visit to India in 2026 and comes on the heels of strained relationship between the two countries due to tariff issues, measures on immigration and disagreements over how last year's India-Pakistan military clashes were handled. Despite these, both sides have hinted at good progress in talks on a proposed bilateral trade deal.