Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India and the United States discussed a potentially sensitive issue in their bilateral relationship on Wednesday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday raised India’s concerns over the newly enacted US law targeting countries continuing to buy Russian oil during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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The discussion came at a sensitive point in India-US ties, with the new US legislation giving President Donald Trump sweeping powers to impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries that continue to buy Russian energy.
Jaishankar said the two sides also discussed the situation in the Gulf and the Ukraine war, as the two countries seek to coordinate on wider regional and global issues.
“Good to meet @SecRubio of the US #UNHighLevelWeek. Reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIA (Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act). Also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations,” Jaishankar posted on X after the meeting.
WHY INDIA IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW US LAW
The meeting came days after Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 into law on September 18.
The legislation gives the US President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and gas. India and China, among the major buyers of Russian energy, could therefore face the impact if Trump decides to use those powers.
Importantly, the law does not automatically impose a 100 per cent tariff on India. It provides the Trump administration with the authority to impose such tariffs.
The legislation also expands sanctions targeting Russia’s energy and defence sectors and its networks involved in circumventing existing sanctions. The broader objective of the law is to increase economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.
For India, the issue is particularly sensitive because Russian crude has become an important part of its energy sourcing. Any major disruption to those supplies or additional costs linked to sanctions could have implications for India’s energy security and wider trade.
NEW DELHI: ENERGY SECURITY COMES FIRST
India has maintained that its energy needs to remain a key consideration in decisions over crude imports. Reacting to the passage of the US legislation, the Ministry of External Affairs had said New Delhi was monitoring developments and would take steps to protect its economic interests.
“As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people,” the MEA said.
“It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics,” it added. The ministry also said the issue had already been discussed at senior levels between India and the US in recent months.
“The issue has been discussed at high levels in recent months with various US interlocutors,” the MEA said.
“Its potential implications for not just the bilateral relationship but also the international energy market have been very clearly articulated by the Indian side,” it added.
WHAT RUBIO SAID AFTER MEETING JAISHANKAR?
Rubio struck a more positive tone after his meeting with Jaishankar, highlighting the wider strategic relationship between the two countries.
“Great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in New York today. Together, we are building on the US-India strategic partnership and coordinating on key regional priorities and upcoming multilateral efforts,” Rubio posted on X.
Neither side publicly provided details of any specific understanding reached on the sanctions’ legislation.
Jaishankar and Rubio have maintained regular contact on several areas of bilateral cooperation. The two ministers had also met in Manila in July, where they discussed issues including trade, tariffs, energy, defence, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
The two sides had also stressed the importance of finalising an interim India-US trade agreement, according to the US State Department’s account of that meeting.
The latest talks in New York therefore come against a much wider backdrop. While Washington is seeking to use economic pressure to curb Russia’s energy revenues, New Delhi is focused on protecting its energy supplies and broader economic interests.
The immediate question now is how the Trump administration will use the powers granted under the new law and whether Washington’s approach will affect India’s continued purchases of Russian energy.
– Ends
With inputs from agencies
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
