The United States has addressed India’s concerns regarding the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could significantly impact bilateral relations by imposing hefty tariffs on major buyers of Russian energy like India. A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged New Delhi’s apprehensions, emphasizing that there are “no hard feelings” over India’s response to the potential legislation.
The proposed sanctions could lead to tariffs of up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian energy, which poses a challenge for India, a major importer of Russian oil. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed that such measures could have serious implications for both the India-US relationship and global energy markets. The Ministry had previously communicated its concerns to US officials regarding the potential impact on India’s energy security.
During discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the issue of the sanctions was a focal point. The US has indicated a willingness to assist countries like India in diversifying their energy sources, a critical need given India’s significant energy requirements.
There is also a provision within the proposed legislation allowing for a broad national security waiver, granting the US president the authority to exempt certain countries from the sanctions under specific circumstances. While it remains unclear if India would be eligible for such a waiver, the US official noted that it could be considered based on national security considerations.
Further emphasizing the continued partnership between the two nations, the US official highlighted ongoing cooperation through platforms such as the Quad. Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India in October, underscoring the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic ties despite the challenges posed by the proposed sanctions.
