Key facts
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met on Wednesday.
- They discussed US sanctions that could be imposed on countries engaging economically with Russia and Iran.
- India reiterated concerns regarding the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026."
- The bill, signed by President Donald Trump, allows for tariffs of up to 100% on certain imports.
- India is a significant buyer of Russian oil, and past tariffs on Indian goods were linked to its purchases of Russian crude.
- India cites its large population and growing economy as reasons for needing affordable energy supplies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met on Wednesday to discuss potential US sanctions against countries that engage economically with Russia and Iran. The meeting followed President Donald Trump's signing of the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," which aims to increase economic pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
The new legislation empowers the US to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported from the five largest importers of Russian crude oil or gas, or any country knowingly making new purchases of Russian oil or gas after the law's enactment, or those aiding Russia in evading sanctions. The State Department confirmed the discussion of these sanctions in a statement following the meeting in New York.
Foreign Minister Jaishankar conveyed India's interests and concerns regarding the bill on X, formerly Twitter. India has previously expressed to Washington that new measures, such as tariffs on Russian oil purchases, could negatively impact bilateral relations. India is a major buyer of Russian oil, having significantly increased its purchases of discounted crude following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This led to Trump imposing tariffs of up to 50% on Indian goods in August 2025, which were later rolled back citing India's commitment to halt Russian oil purchases. However, New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil only briefly decreased and have since increased, particularly after supply shocks related to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
India maintains that its energy needs for its large population and growing economy necessitate affordable supplies. Indian analysts argue that these purchases do not finance the war in Ukraine but help stabilize global supplies and keep domestic prices manageable.