The United States has acknowledged India’s concerns regarding the potential impact of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, a proposed legislation that could impose significant tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, including India. This act could affect bilateral ties between the two nations, as India is one of the major buyers of Russian oil.
A senior official from the US State Department stated that Washington understands India’s need to address the legislation, especially following criticism from several US lawmakers over India’s energy purchases from Russia. Despite these tensions, the official emphasized that there are “no hard feelings” towards New Delhi’s response to the proposed law.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has conveyed worries that the legislation might affect both the India-US relationship and global energy markets. New Delhi has previously discussed with US officials the potential repercussions on its energy security if additional sanctions were to be imposed.
The proposed act includes a national security waiver, allowing the US president the discretion to exempt specific countries from certain measures, depending on national security considerations. While the US official did not specify if India would receive such a waiver, they noted its potential application.
The matter 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 expressed its willingness to assist countries like India in diversifying their energy sources to meet substantial energy demands. The official also highlighted ongoing collaboration between the two countries through platforms like the Quad and mentioned Rubio’s upcoming visit to India in October.