The United States has addressed India’s apprehensions regarding the potential impact of the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act on bilateral relations, assuring that there are “no hard feelings” regarding New Delhi’s stance on the legislation. The proposed law could levy tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, a category that includes India due to its significant imports of Russian oil.
A senior US State Department official acknowledged India’s concerns, particularly in light of criticism from several US lawmakers over India’s continued energy dealings with Russia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs had previously cautioned that such sanctions could affect the India-US relationship and the broader global energy market, given India’s reliance on Russian energy supplies.
The legislation includes a national security waiver that could allow the US president to exempt certain countries from specific sanctions if necessary. While the official did not confirm whether India would be granted such a waiver, they noted that this provision could be employed, contingent on national security considerations.
This issue was 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 looking to diversify their energy resources, recognizing India’s substantial energy requirements.
The US official also emphasized the ongoing cooperation between the two nations through initiatives like the Quad, underscoring the importance of collaboration on various fronts. Additionally, Secretary Rubio’s upcoming visit to India in October is expected to further strengthen the dialogue between the two countries.