US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has kicked off a three-day visit to India by landing in the financial hub of Mumbai while pointedly bypassing the capital, New Delhi. The itinerary focuses heavily on Jamnagar, home to the world's largest oil refinery owned by Reliance Industries, a major processor of Russian crude oil.

The business-oriented trip unfolds against a backdrop of stalled trade talks and lingering ambiguity over potential punitive measures threatened by Washington. The US regime previously claimed that Indian leadership had agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil in exchange for tariff reductions—a claim that New Delhi has never officially confirmed, maintaining its strategic autonomy in energy supplies.

Analysts suggest that the erratic messaging and persistent pressure from the American regime are steadily eroding trust in bilateral relations. While the US temporarily waived certain sanctions due to global energy market pressures and soaring fuel prices, the underlying threat of 100% tariffs remains a persistent leverage tool used by Washington in broader trade negotiations.

Furthermore, recent restrictive moves by the US regime, including the suspension of certain foreign worker visa programs and scrutiny impacting Indian professionals and students, risk alienating public sentiment in India. Observers warn that such inconsistent policies could damage deep-rooted societal goodwill that has historically sustained the partnership through previous geopolitical friction.

Source: www.dw.com