US Energy Secretary Chris Wright showed strong support for India during a press conference in New York on Wednesday. He called New Delhi an “awesome ally” and declared himself a “huge fan of India,” pushing for closer ties in energy cooperation between the two nations.
Wright highlighted India’s vibrant growth, describing it as the world’s largest democracy with a booming economy and rising energy needs. “A lot of my early time in this position was dealing with India… a fast-growing economy, a truly dynamic society that has rapidly growing energy demand because people are increasing their prosperity and opportunities. We love India,” he said.
His comments build on remarks from India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, who on Tuesday urged more India-US energy trade. Speaking at an energy security event in New York, Goyal pointed to opportunities in nuclear power as a clean, affordable option, as well as support for renewable energy startups.
Wright touched on tensions over India’s purchases of Russian oil, noting US President Donald Trump’s efforts to use diplomatic tools for peace in Ukraine. “We want to bring that war to an end. I believe the Indians want to bring that war to an end,” he added. Despite the friction, Wright emphasized the US desire to boost energy ties. “We want to expand our energy cooperation with India, in natural gas, in coal, in nuclear, and in clean cooking fuels like liquid petroleum gas. India has been a star in that area. So, we want nothing more than more trade and energy cooperation with India.”
On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the Trump administration could ease the extra 25% tariffs on India linked to those Russian oil buys. In an NBC News interview, Rubio said the US aims to resolve the Ukraine conflict and hopes to “fix” those measures. “We have already seen the measures we have taken with regard to India, although that’s something we hope we can fix,” he noted, while criticizing European countries for not doing enough.
Rubio also praised India as a “very close partner” in an ABC News chat. “We’ve imposed additional tariffs on India – and they’re a very close partner of ours – and we had meetings with them again yesterday, and it has to do with their purchase of Russian oil,” he explained.
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in New York for the UN General Assembly, met Rubio on Monday. Rubio called India “critical” to the US and welcomed ongoing trade talks. Jaishankar shared on X that their discussion covered key bilateral and global issues, agreeing on the need for steady engagement to advance priorities.
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