The United States has responded to India’s concerns over a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, emphasizing that there are “no hard feelings” despite potential implications for bilateral ties. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act could introduce tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian energy, which includes India, a significant purchaser of Russian oil.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s position, understanding New Delhi’s need to address the legislation, especially after US lawmakers criticized India’s continued energy dealings with Russia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had previously cautioned that such sanctions might affect the India-US relationship and have broader impacts on global energy markets. India has consistently voiced its concerns to US officials about how additional sanctions might threaten its energy security.
The proposed legislation contains a national security waiver, granting the US president the discretion to exempt countries from certain measures under specific circumstances. While it remains uncertain whether India would be eligible for such a waiver, the US official indicated that this option could be considered based on national security needs.
The issue was a topic of discussion during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions highlighted Washington’s potential support for countries like India in diversifying their energy supplies, given India’s substantial energy demands.
The US official also pointed to the ongoing collaboration between the two nations through initiatives such as the Quad, and mentioned Rubio’s scheduled visit to India in October, signaling continued diplomatic engagement amid the legislative developments.
