India Is a friend, not yet a full ally: US secretary of state

Despite a longstanding friendly relationship between the United States and India, the country has not yet become a full ally of the US in terms of trade and strategic cooperation, said US Secretary of State and President Donald Trump's National Security Advisor, Marco Rubio.

Rubio made the remarks during an interview with Fox News on Thursday (July 31), a day after President Trump imposed a 25% export tariff on Indian goods.

When asked whether President Trump is "unhappy" with India, Rubio responded, "India is our friend, a strategic partner. But the relationship hasn’t yet reached the level of a full-fledged alliance."

He noted that some of India’s trade policies and actions have become increasingly frustrating for the US, especially its stance on energy procurement, which contradicts American policy.

"India is a large country with significant energy needs. It has the capacity to purchase fuel at prevailing international prices—but it’s not doing that," Rubio said. "Instead, it's relying on discounted Russian oil, made available due to sanctions, and even refining that cheap oil to sell at higher prices in the global market."

Under these circumstances, Rubio made it clear that while the US acknowledges India as a friend, it does not yet consider it a complete or dependable ally.