The United States has responded to India’s concerns over a proposed sanctions law targeting Russia, acknowledging potential impacts on bilateral relations but reassuring that there are “no hard feelings” from Washington. The proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act could impose tariffs of up to 100% on major purchasers of Russian energy, which includes India as a significant buyer of Russian oil.
A senior official from the US State Department emphasized that Washington understands India’s need to address the legislation, especially following criticism from several US lawmakers regarding India’s energy purchases from Russia. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has previously expressed that the sanctions could affect both the India-US relationship and global energy markets, citing concerns about its energy security.
The legislation includes a national security waiver, allowing the US president to exempt certain countries from specific measures under defined circumstances. While the US official did not confirm whether India would receive such a waiver, it was noted that the provision could be applied based on national security considerations.
This 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 potential support for countries attempting to diversify their energy sources, acknowledging India’s substantial energy demands.
The US official further highlighted ongoing collaboration between the two nations through initiatives like the Quad, and mentioned Secretary Rubio’s planned visit to India in October, underscoring the continued diplomatic engagement between Washington and New Delhi.