Marco Rubio Visits Uzbekistan and India to Finalize Trade Deal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Uzbekistan and India to secure critical mineral supply chains and finalize a bilateral trade agreement with New Delhi.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a diplomatic and commercial tour of Uzbekistan and India from October 17 to 22, 2026. The mission focused on expanding U.S. economic influence, securing critical mineral supply chains, and finalizing a bilateral trade agreement with India. In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio led a delegation of approximately 300 business leaders for the C5+1 Ministerial, resulting in over 50 contracts worth $12 billion. During this leg, Uzbekistan became the 77th signatory of the Artemis Accords.
Upon arriving in India on October 20, Rubio held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai to discuss energy security, defense, and the pending trade deal. Rubio stated the U.S. is "very close" to finalizing the agreement, which would exchange lower U.S. tariffs on Indian goods for expanded market access for American agricultural products. The progress follows an executive order by President Donald Trump waiving sanctions under the Graham Act, which would have imposed 100% tariffs on importers of Russian oil. Rubio noted that India is an important ally that cannot pivot its energy portfolio overnight.
Rubio also visited the Reliance Industries refining complex in Jamnagar, Gujarat, to meet with Chairman Mukesh Ambani. The visit highlighted a $300 billion partnership for Reliance to build the "America First Refining" project in Brownsville, Texas. While the State Department characterized the trip as business-focused, the visit occurred amid domestic U.S. pressure to lower diesel prices and political friction in India over the decision to hold diplomatic meetings in Mumbai rather than New Delhi.
