US Energy Secretary Hails India as Significant Energy Partner

During a recent press release, Chris Wright, the United States Energy Secretary, singled out India as an excellent partner and voiced a fervent wish to fortify energy collaboration between the two nations. The potential cooperation would extend across numerous energy sectors, including natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and environmentally friendly cooking fuels. Chris Wright expressed an eagerness to enhance the energy union with our ‘remarkable ally’, India where he characterized the Indian capital as a ‘standout’.

Chris Wright spoke about the early stages of his time in office and mentioned that it largely revolved around dealing with India, which he described as the world’s most populous democracy and a crucial collaborator of the United States. He also praised India’s rapidly growing economy and vibrant society, which has led to amplified energy demands. This increase in demand is in line with the rise in prosperity and opportunities among the citizens.

Drawing attention to his admiration for India and its potential, Wright said, ‘I’m a huge fan of India. We love India. We are excited about the prospects of increased energy trading and deeper engagements with India.’ His comments noted a warm United States’ disposition towards India and the potential for increased energy trade and collaboration.

These remarks came during a press conference held at the New York Foreign Press Centre, where Wright responded to queries about India’s expectations on energy trading with the United States, as initiated by Piyush Goyal, the Commerce Minister of India. Goyal had mentioned that India is looking forward to boosting its energy trade with the United States, with a significant portion of India’s energy security plan involving the United States.

Wright was probed on how he interprets the ongoing relationship between India and the United States in light of the additional tariffs of 25 percent that the United States levied on India’s procurement of Russian oil. To this, Wright confessed, ‘And then India is caught up in the middle of another issue.’

Addressing the international geopolitical tensions, Wright credited US President Donald Trump’s deepest enthusiasm for international peace. He shared that the subject of peace inevitably comes up during their dialogues, regardless of the topic at hand. The discussions often center around how the United States can leverage its various tools and resources to foster global tranquillity. Cryptically, he reflected on the brutality of the ongoing Russian conflict in Ukraine and expressed a universal desire for it to cease.

Wright discussed how the restricted Russian oil supplies are finding their way to China, India, and Turkey. He urged that these purchases assist Russia in financing its military conflicts, amplifying the international difficulties associated with the situation. ‘And that’s the friction. The friction is on that issue. We want to bring that war to an end,’ Wright stated, highlighting an intersection of political and energy-related topics.

Regarding India’s stance on the matter, Wright believed that India too desires to observe the conclusion of this war. Despite the geopolitical challenges, Wright affirmed the intent to broaden the energy partnership with India in sectors like natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, and clean cooking fuels. He commended India’s efforts, especially in the area of liquid petroleum gas, acknowledging it as leading the sector.

Wright ended by emphasizing, ‘So we want nothing more than to increase our energy trade cooperation with India.’ His comments are a testament to the potential the United States sees in India, regarding it as a critical energy ally even amid complex international issues.

From its end, India has reiterated that its energy acquisitions are guided by national priorities and market forces. Following the sanctions imposed on Moscow by Western countries for the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has resorted to acquiring Russian oil, which is being sold at a reduced price. This decision reflects India’s pragmatic approach to fulfilling its energy needs while maneuvering through a challenging international political landscape.