The United States has addressed India’s concerns regarding the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could impose significant tariffs on major purchasers of Russian energy, including India. While acknowledging the potential impact on bilateral relations, a senior U.S. State Department official expressed that there are “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s response to the legislation.
The proposed law could lead to tariffs of up to 100% on countries heavily reliant on Russian energy imports. India, as a significant buyer of Russian oil, has raised concerns through its Ministry of External Affairs about the potential repercussions on its energy security and the broader India-U.S. relationship. The U.S. official noted that Washington comprehends India’s standpoint, especially following criticism from some U.S. lawmakers regarding India’s energy purchases from Russia.
To address these concerns, the legislation includes a national security waiver that would permit the U.S. president to exempt countries from certain measures based on specific circumstances. Although the U.S. official did not specify whether India would be granted this waiver, it was emphasized that such provisions could be utilized in alignment with national security considerations.
The issue was a topic of discussion during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The U.S. has indicated its willingness to support countries like India in diversifying their energy sources, acknowledging India’s pressing energy needs.
Despite the potential challenges, the U.S. official highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two nations through multilateral platforms such as the Quad. Additionally, Secretary Rubio’s planned visit to India in October is seen as a continued commitment to fostering strong bilateral ties.