The United States has acknowledged India’s concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which aims to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy. This legislation could significantly affect India, a key buyer of Russian oil. While the US understands India’s stance, it has expressed that there are “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s response to the proposed law.
A senior official from the US State Department highlighted that Washington recognizes India’s need to address the legislation, especially after some US lawmakers publicly criticized India’s ongoing acquisitions of Russian energy. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had previously warned that the sanctions law could have repercussions on the India-US relationship and global energy markets, citing concerns about its potential effects on India’s energy security.
Although the legislation includes a broad national security waiver that would allow the US president to exempt countries from certain measures under specific conditions, it remains unclear whether India would receive such a waiver. The US official mentioned that this provision could be employed based on national security considerations.
The issue was also a topic of discussion during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US has indicated its willingness to support countries like India in diversifying their energy supplies, recognizing the nation’s substantial energy demands.
Despite the concerns surrounding the sanctions, the US official emphasized the ongoing collaboration between the two countries through initiatives such as the Quad. Furthermore, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit India in October, underscoring the continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations.