Marco Rubio in Jamnagar, Reliance Refinery in Focus as US Eyes Energy Ties

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Reliance Industries twin refinery complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, on the second day of his India visit after holding discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai. The Jamnagar complex, recognised as the world's largest single-location refining facility with a daily capacity of 1.4 million barrels, is capable of processing heavy and high-sulphur crude, including Venezuelan oil. Rubio's visit underscores energy diplomacy as Washington seeks alternatives to Russian supplies and reliable sources of refined fuel, particularly diesel, to ease surging domestic prices and inflation ahead of the November midterm elections. The bilateral engagements also addressed wider cooperation across energy, civil aviation, and strategic initiatives, alongside upcoming interactions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.