India has joined the US-led strategic alliance ‘Pax Silica’ on Friday (20 February 2026). During this, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore gave a statement regarding trade deal and Russian oil. He claimed that India is trying to diversify its oil purchases. He said that America’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India.

India-US trade deal will be signed soon: Gore

Sergio Gore said, ‘India-America trade deal is likely to be signed soon. We are taking the relations between the two countries to the next level. Referring to India-US trade deal, Pax Silica, defense relations, he said, ‘Both the countries have immense opportunities to work together. Both sides resolved long standing differences. This deal is not just about tariffs and trade, but about a commitment between two democratic countries to develop together rather than trade.

India looking for options for oil: Sergio Gore

In an interview to Reuters during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Sergio Gore said, ‘India is working to diversify its options for purchasing oil. They are in talks to buy oil from Venezuela. In an interview given to news agency ANI, he said, ‘An agreement has been reached on the oil issue. India has diversified in the oil sector. This is not India’s issue. America does not want anyone to buy Russian oil. The President has been clear about this, he wants to end this war (Russia-Ukraine) so that peace can be established.

Russia bluntly on Trump’s claim

US President Donald Trump recently claimed that India has agreed to stop purchasing oil from Russia. Although India has not officially given any such statement. Russia has made it clear that it has not received any information in this regard from New Delhi. India has repeatedly said that it will continue to buy cheap oil keeping in mind the interests of its people. However, India has said that it will consider increasing imports from Venezuela including oil.