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Key Points
Rubio will visit the world's largest refinery located in Jamnagar, which belongs to Reliance Industries Group controlled by Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
With midterm elections approaching, the Trump administration is seeking ways to lower diesel prices, which directly affect American truck drivers, farmers, and freight companies.
Ambani, on one hand, is investing in the first new refinery project built in the US in 50 years, and on the other hand, is increasing purchases of Venezuelan crude oil, thereby building close ties with the Trump administration.
June 17, 2026, Evian-les-Bains, France, during the G7 Summit. (From left to right) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor attend a bilateral meeting between US President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi.
Ahead of the US midterm elections, with domestic diesel prices surging sharply, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Jamnagar, India, to visit the world's largest refinery operated by Reliance Industries, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani.
The International Energy Agency has warned that tight supply conditions in the diesel market may keep oil prices elevated until next year.
Diesel prices matter to American truck operators, farmers, and freight enterprises. To stabilize diesel prices, US President Trump earlier this month introduced measures allowing Russian-origin petroleum products to enter global market circulation.
Experts interviewed stated that with midterm elections imminent and the American public highly focused on the domestic economy, Rubio's visit will prioritize commercial cooperation rather than policy maneuvering and political issues.
Experts added that Ambani's flagship company Reliance Industries not only invests in US refinery projects but is also a major buyer of Venezuelan crude oil; combined with the company's formidable diesel supply capacity, the Jamnagar refinery has therefore become an important stop on Rubio's itinerary.
The US State Department announced the schedule on Tuesday: Rubio will travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from October 17 to 22, then proceed to Mumbai and Jamnagar in India. The announcement did not mention a visit to New Delhi.
The official announcement stated that this is Rubio's second visit to India this year, where he will meet with some senior Indian officials and business leaders to "advance commercial investment and economic cooperation opportunities."
US Engagement with Ambani
According to reports, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated that Rubio will visit the Reliance Industries refinery complex in Jamnagar and hinted that Rubio would meet with Ambani.
The report cited Gor's exact words: "Ambani heads Reliance Industries, and I expect he will be present."
Gor later told India's NDTV television in an interview that the Jamnagar visit was arranged because Reliance Industries participates in US refinery projects.
An email was sent to Reliance Industries seeking details about the visit, but no reply was received; the US State Department also did not respond to inquiries during non-business hours.
Apit Charturvedy, a South Asia consultant at strategic advisory firm Teneo, said that with US midterm elections in November approaching and domestic diesel prices abnormally high, the Trump administration is actively seeking ways to increase fuel supply.
He also noted that the Jamnagar refinery possesses massive export-oriented refining capacity, giving the US ample reason to seek diesel and other refined product supplies from there.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk publicly mentioned Ambani last week. Ambani has been actively building relationships with the Trump administration.
In March of this year, President Trump expressed gratitude to Reliance Industries for the company's participation in building the first new refinery project in the US in nearly 50 years.
Reliance Industries, controlled by the Ambani family, is now the second-largest buyer of Venezuelan crude oil; in contrast, Indian state-owned oil enterprises have largely not responded to Trump's call to increase purchases of Venezuelan crude.
Atman Trivedi, a partner at Washington-based DGA Albright Stonebridge Group, said that Rubio's visit will also highlight Reliance Industries' plans to build a large new refinery in Texas, a state that is a fiercely contested and nationally closely watched constituency in this US midterm election cycle.
Trivedi added that Reliance Industries is also fully positioned to export diesel and other petroleum refined products to the US.
According to Reliance Industries' official information, the Jamnagar refinery is the world's largest single-site integrated refining complex, with a crude oil processing capacity of 1.4 million barrels per day.
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