The United States has addressed India’s concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, acknowledging that the legislation could affect bilateral relations. Despite this, a senior US State Department official emphasized that there are “no hard feelings” over India’s response to the proposed law.
The legislation in question could impose tariffs as high as 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, a category that includes India due to its significant imports of Russian oil. The acknowledgment comes amid criticisms from some US lawmakers regarding India’s energy purchases from Russia, prompting India to express apprehensions about possible repercussions on its energy security and the broader India-US relationship.
In discussions with US officials, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has highlighted concerns that the sanctions could disrupt global energy markets. However, the US official pointed out that the legislation includes a national security waiver, which could allow the US president to exempt certain countries from specific sanctions based on national security considerations. While it remains unclear if India would qualify for such a waiver, the provision offers a potential avenue for flexibility.
The issue was a topic of conversation between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. During the meeting, the US expressed support for countries like India in their efforts to diversify energy sources, recognizing India’s ongoing energy demands. Additionally, the US official highlighted the continued collaboration between the two nations on platforms like the Quad and mentioned Rubio’s upcoming visit to India in October.