The United States has sought to ease India’s concerns over the potential impact of the proposed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which could impose significant tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. As India is a major buyer of Russian oil, the law might affect its energy security and bilateral ties with the US.
A senior official from the US State Department acknowledged India’s apprehensions and stated that there were “no hard feelings” regarding New Delhi’s response to the proposed legislation. The official also emphasized Washington’s understanding of India’s position, especially in light of public criticism from US lawmakers regarding India’s Russian energy purchases.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has expressed that the legislation could have broader implications, not only for the India-US relationship but also for global energy markets. The proposed act includes a national security waiver that could allow the US president to exempt certain countries from these measures, though it remains unclear if India would be granted such a waiver.
These issues were part of discussions between India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with the US showing openness to supporting countries like India in diversifying their energy sources. This comes as India continues to face significant energy demands.
The US official also noted the ongoing cooperation between the two nations on platforms such as the Quad, and mentioned Rubio’s planned visit to India in October, which underscores the continued diplomatic engagements between the two countries.