India on Saturday raised concerns over its looming crude oil and natural gas supply crisis with the US, saying it sought the free flow of energy supplies, which have been hampered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and intermittent sanctions on the purchase of Russian crude.The issue figured prominently when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India — which, in his own words, is aimed at reaffirming that the relationship with India is “incredibly important” — called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval were present at the meeting.Sources said Rubio mentioned that India needed to “diversify” its crude oil purchases, hinting that the US could emerge as a reliable supplier. Rubio also invited the PM on behalf of President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the “near future”.The Indian side reportedly conveyed that nearly 20 per cent of global energy supplies had been wiped out and crude prices had crossed $110 per barrel, up sharply from the $65 range since the US-Iran war began in February.The sources said Rubio also highlighted the need for India and the US to collaborate on small modular reactors (SMRs), considered next-generation nuclear technology because of their flexibility and potential to replace retiring coal-based power plants. A delegation from the US nuclear energy industry had visited New Delhi last week.Following the meeting, Modi in a post on X said, “We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the US will continue to work closely for the global good.”Later in the day, while speaking at the opening of a new annex building at the US Embassy in the capital, Rubio described the India-US relationship as the “cornerstone” of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy. “The relationship with India is an incredibly important one, and it’s the reason why I’m here on this visit. To reaffirm those ties and build upon them,” Rubio said.“In the months ahead, we are going to have even more exciting and new announcements to strengthen the relationship between the two countries,” he added. Rubio said the relationship was anchored by the personal rapport between US President Donald Trump and Modi. “It’s a personal relationship. The connection between them is incredibly important,” he said.He described Trump and Modi as “two very serious leaders who are focused not just on the short term, but on the long term”, adding that this formed a key foundation of bilateral ties. Rubio also noted the expansion of commercial relations between the two countries. “There have been $20 billion in investments from Indian companies in the US. We’ve deepened our security partnership through military exercises in the Indo-Pacific,” he said.On the Quad meeting scheduled for May 26, Rubio said: “We wanted to do it here, not just because of our commitment to that structure, but as a tangible sign of the important role India plays in the US’ approach to the Indo-Pacific.”A bilateral meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar is scheduled for Jattvibeday, with discussions expected on energy security, trade and defence cooperation.The talks come against the backdrop of India-US trade negotiations remaining stalled over India’s sensitivities regarding certain agriculture and dairy imports from the US. In the defence sector, India has also raised concerns over delays in the supply of contracted jet engines by General Electric for the Tejas Mark-1A fighter jets.Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning and visited the Missionaries of Charity, the organisation once headed by Mother Teresa. The organisation’s licence to receive foreign donations under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) had first been revoked and later restored in 2022.Later, Rubio, in a post on X, said he had discussed the West Asia situation with PM Modi, along with US-India cooperation on energy, securing critical supply chains and collaboration on emerging technologies. He added: “Pleased to invite PM Modi to the White House on behalf of President Trump.”