The United States has addressed India’s apprehensions regarding a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, assuring that there are “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s stance on the issue. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which aims to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, could potentially impact India, a significant buyer of Russian oil.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s concerns, particularly following criticism from some US lawmakers over India’s energy transactions with Russia. The official emphasized that the US understands India’s need to respond to the legislation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed that the proposed sanctions could have repercussions for both the bilateral India-US relationship and the global energy market. India has previously communicated its worries to US officials, stressing the potential impact on its energy security.
The proposed legislation includes a national security waiver provision that could allow the US president to exempt certain countries from specific sanctions under particular circumstances. Although the US official did not confirm whether India would receive such an exemption, it was noted that the waiver could be applied based on national security considerations.
The topic was also a subject of discussion during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US indicated its willingness to support nations like India in diversifying their energy sources, recognizing India’s substantial energy needs. The US official further highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two countries through initiatives such as the Quad and mentioned Rubio’s scheduled visit to India in October.