U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington views India as a “strategic partner” but warned that New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil are straining bilateral ties. Speaking in a televised interview, Rubio called the energy trade “a point of irritation in our relationship” and noted that President Donald Trump has “clearly expressed frustration” that India keeps sourcing crude from Russia despite alternative suppliers. Rubio argued that the revenue from those sales helps Moscow finance its war in Ukraine, running counter to U.S.-led efforts to squeeze the Kremlin’s energy income. While the statement stops short of threatening specific penalties, it underscores growing U.S. impatience as it seeks broader international support for sanctions designed to curb Russia’s wartime revenues.