United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to travel to India in the coming week, though his itinerary notably bypasses the nation's capital, New Delhi. According to a statement released by the US Department of State, Rubio will hold discussions on Monday with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Mumbai, India’s financial hub, before heading to an oil refinery in Jamnagar, located in the western state of Gujarat.

The unusual routing has triggered a sharp political backlash within India after the US ambassador stated that Washington expected Jaishankar to travel and meet Rubio. Opposition leaders fiercely criticized the government for allegedly allowing India’s top diplomat to be "summoned" on domestic soil. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the lower house of parliament, claimed on social media that Rubio had summoned his employee, while other critics labeled the arrangement a new low for national dignity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.

This diplomatic friction compounds existing bilateral tensions centered around trade disputes, tariffs, and India's continued purchases of Russian crude. Although tariff rates were adjusted downward from 50 percent following earlier clashes, negotiations have largely stalled. Further complicating ties, the US recently suspended several major Indian IT firms from a vital labor certification program, while public opinion in India towards the US has reportedly dipped amid broader geopolitical disagreements.

Officially, the US regime has framed the trip around strategic cooperation, energy, and investment, emphasizing stops at major energy hubs like the Reliance Industries refinery in Jamnagar. Analysts note that the refinery plays a pivotal role in broader oil dynamics, particularly as the US attempts to market alternative crude sources and manage domestic fuel pricing pressures ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.

Source: www.aljazeera.com