The United States has addressed India’s apprehensions regarding a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, assuring that there are “no hard feelings” over India’s stance. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act could levy tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy, a category that includes India due to its significant purchases of Russian oil.
A senior official from the U.S. State Department acknowledged India’s need to react to the legislation, especially after U.S. lawmakers openly criticized New Delhi’s energy dealings with Russia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concerns that the sanctions could negatively impact the India-U.S. relationship and disrupt global energy markets. Indian officials have previously communicated these concerns to their U.S. counterparts, emphasizing the potential threat to India’s energy security.
The legislation includes a broad national security waiver, granting the U.S. president the ability to exempt certain countries from specific sanctions under defined circumstances. While the U.S. official did not confirm whether India would be granted such a waiver, they noted that it could be applicable based on national security considerations.
This issue was a topic of discussion during a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. has indicated its support for countries like India that are working to diversify their energy sources, recognizing India’s significant energy demands.
The U.S. official also highlighted ongoing collaboration between the two nations through initiatives like the Quad, underscoring the importance of continued strategic partnerships. Additionally, Secretary of State Rubio’s planned visit to India in October signals a commitment to maintaining and strengthening bilateral ties amidst these concerns.