The United States has sought to ease India’s concerns regarding a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, asserting that there are “no hard feelings” over New Delhi’s stance on the legislation. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, under consideration, could impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, potentially impacting India as a significant buyer.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s apprehensions, especially in light of public criticism from several US lawmakers over India’s continued energy purchases from Russia. New Delhi has expressed that the proposed sanctions could affect the bilateral relationship between India and the US as well as global energy markets. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has previously raised these issues with US officials, citing the potential ramifications for India’s energy security.
The legislation includes a national security waiver allowing the US president to exempt certain countries from specific measures under particular circumstances. While the US official did not confirm whether India would be granted such a waiver, it was noted that this provision could be applied based on national security considerations.
The matter was also addressed during a meeting between India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During the discussions, the US indicated support for countries pursuing diversification of their energy supplies, acknowledging India’s significant energy needs.
The US official emphasized the ongoing cooperation between the two countries through initiatives like the Quad. Furthermore, it was noted that Secretary Rubio is scheduled to visit India in October, potentially providing further opportunities for dialogue on these issues.