New Delhi: The United States is once again walking a familiar diplomatic tightrope — seeking to expand its strategic partnership with Pakistan without unsettling its long and “deep” relationship with India. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the ASEAN Summit, made a concerted effort to allay concerns in New Delhi about Washington’s renewed outreach to Islamabad.
Rubio, who is accompanying President Donald Trump on his Asia tour, underscored that America’s ties with India are “historic, resilient, and not transactional.” He emphasized that both Washington and New Delhi pursue independent relationships with various nations — a hallmark, he said, of “a mature, pragmatic foreign policy.”
“Just as India maintains relations with countries that we don’t, the same principle applies in reverse,” Rubio said. “I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our friendship with India, which remains one of our most valued and strategic partnerships.”
Rubio is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit — their fourth in-person interaction this year, reflecting the intensity of bilateral engagement despite persistent frictions over trade, tariffs, and energy issues.
The upcoming Jaishankar–Rubio meeting is expected to focus on India’s continued imports of Russian crude, a sensitive subject for Washington, as well as ongoing trade negotiations that remain stuck over tariff disputes and market access.
The Secretary’s comments come amid a broader American effort, spearheaded by President Trump, to “recalibrate” ties with Pakistan. In recent months, Washington has pursued new agreements with Islamabad in areas such as critical mineral mining and energy cooperation, raising eyebrows among Indian policymakers wary of a potential US tilt towards Pakistan.
Adding to the unease, the Trump administration has retained high tariffs — as steep as 50 percent — on several Indian exports, while Pakistan continues to enjoy selective trade preferences in certain sectors.
The India–Pakistan dynamic has repeatedly tested Washington’s ability to balance interests in South Asia. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours briefly flared into a military standoff. At the time, President Trump claimed that
In a bizarre twist, Pakistan even nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, hailing his “mediation efforts” — a move that India dismissed as political theatre.
Defending renewed engagement with Islamabad, Rubio argued that Washington’s intent was not to reward Pakistan but to “rebuild a pragmatic working relationship” based on mutual interests such as counterterrorism and energy security. “We’re fully aware of the challenges this entails, especially regarding India,” he said. “But our responsibility is to explore avenues for cooperation wherever possible.”
Rubio also claimed that India had already shown interest in diversifying its crude oil imports, something Washington views as consistent with its push to deepen trade ties. “If India diversifies its portfolio, that’s good for both sides,” he remarked. “The more they buy from us, the less they’ll need from others. But I’m not negotiating deals — I just know India has long wanted to diversify even before this issue came up.”
His remarks follow Washington’s fresh sanctions on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, a move aimed at discouraging Asian refiners — particularly India’s — from continuing their Russian crude purchases.
Asked whether such actions could strain India–US relations, Rubio was measured: “We have broader trade issues with India, no question. But India remains a key ally, a trusted partner, and a friend. That won’t change.”
India’s continued import of Russian crude has long been a sore point in Washington. The Trump administration’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 percent levy directly linked to oil procurement from Moscow, further aggravated relations. New Delhi denounced the move as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
In recent weeks, President Trump claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had privately assured him that India would soon end Russian oil imports — a statement the Indian government swiftly refuted. “No such conversation took place,” New Delhi clarified in an official statement.
Ironically, just days later, Trump telephoned Modi to extend Diwali greetings, underscoring the unpredictable yet enduring nature of the relationship — one that continues to oscillate between warmth and wary pragmatism.
Rubio’s carefully calibrated remarks highlight Washington’s broader strategy in a rapidly shifting Asian geopolitical landscape. As the US seeks to strengthen its network of regional partnerships to counterbalance Chinese influence, it must simultaneously manage its delicate equations with both India and Pakistan — two nations whose rivalry remains one of the world’s most persistent fault lines.
For now, Rubio’s words may offer reassurance to New Delhi. But actions — whether on trade tariffs, sanctions, or military cooperation — will ultimately determine whether Washington’s “deep friendship” with India remains as unshakeable as it claims, or begins to fray under the weight of realpolitik.
