New Delhi, 15 March 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today in New Delhi, the latest in a series of high-level diplomatic engagements between the United States and India. The talks focused on trade, defence, and technology cooperation, with both sides emphasising the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is actively courting India for a post-Brexit trade and energy alliance, a move that could reshape global energy markets.
The meeting between Rubio and Modi, held at Hyderabad House, comes at a time of increasing geopolitical tension. The United States views India as a critical counterbalance to China's influence in the region. Sources close to the discussions indicate that the two sides discussed joint military exercises, semiconductor supply chains, and clean energy transitions. "We are aligning our strategies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific," Rubio stated in a press conference following the talks. Modi emphasised India's commitment to a rules-based international order.
Concurrently, the UK's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Kemi Badenoch, arrived in Mumbai to advance negotiations for a comprehensive free trade agreement. The UK sees India as a pivotal partner in its post-Brexit trade strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on EU markets. A key component of the proposed deal is an energy alliance focused on solar and hydrogen technologies. The UK has pledged £1.2 billion in investment for Indian renewable energy projects, a move that could accelerate India's target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
From a climate perspective, these developments are significant. India is the world's third-largest carbon emitter, and its energy demand is projected to double by 2040. The UK's push for an energy alliance could facilitate technology transfer and carbon market mechanisms. However, critics argue that the UK's own climate policies are inconsistent: the country recently approved a new coal mine in Cumbria, which was widely condemned by environmental groups. "The UK cannot preach about green energy while expanding fossil fuel extraction," said Dr. Anjali Sharma, a climate policy analyst at the Centre for Science and Environment.
It is a gravitational truth of geopolitics that energy transitions are now inextricably linked with trade and security. The International Energy Agency has repeatedly stressed that global energy investment must triple to meet net-zero targets by 2050. The Rubio-Modi meeting and the UK-India negotiations represent either a coordinated step towards that goal or a continuation of fossil fuel dependencies, depending on the fine print.
For now, the data is clear: atmospheric CO2 concentrations hit 422 parts per million last month, the highest in 4 million years. The urgency of the moment demands that these diplomatic endeavours translate into concrete emissions reductions. The planet does not recognise borders, and neither should our climate action.
