The United States has addressed India’s concerns over a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, emphasizing that there are “no hard feelings” regarding India’s response. The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which includes potential tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, has raised concerns in India due to its substantial Russian oil imports.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s position, particularly after some US lawmakers criticized India’s energy trade with Russia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs previously warned that the legislation could impact both the bilateral relationship and global energy markets. India has consistently expressed worries to US officials about how additional sanctions could affect its energy security.
The proposed legislation also contains a broad national security waiver, allowing the US president to exempt certain countries from specific measures based on national security circumstances. While the US official did not specify if India would qualify for such a waiver, they noted the potential for its application depending on strategic considerations.
The issue was part of discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US has indicated a willingness to assist countries, like India, in diversifying their energy sources to meet their significant energy demands.
Additionally, the US official underscored ongoing collaboration between the US and India through forums such as the Quad, highlighting the planned visit of Secretary Rubio to India in October as a step towards strengthening ties.