Politics
Jaishankar Presses Rubio On US Tariff Threat Over Russian Oil Buyers As India Guards Energy Security
India faces higher trade pressure if Russian crude purchases continue.
India faces higher trade pressure if Russian crude purchases continue.
India’s purchases of Russian oil are straining its ties with Washington. A new US law lets President Trump impose of up to 100 percent on countries that keep buying Russian oil and gas. India is one of the biggest buyers, so it is directly at risk. The law does not automatically apply those , but it keeps the threat in place. That leaves New Delhi trying to keep cheaper fuel coming in without provoking the US.
That is why Jaishankar raised India’s concerns with Rubio at the UN General Assembly. The issue affects more than relations between governments. If India has to move away from , fuel prices could rise and affect transport, goods, and the wider economy. The US wants more pressure on Russia, while India says it still needs room to choose its energy suppliers.
After the UNGA meeting, the central issue remained open, how India can keep buying cheaper Russian oil while avoiding the new US tariff risk. The law’s and the lack of a clear kept the diplomatic and economic pressure live rather than settled.
S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the of the in New York. During the meeting, Jaishankar reiterated India’s concerns about the sanctions law and its possible impact on Indian trade and energy access.
New Delhi’s initial response stressed that India would protect its and while watching the new US law closely. The reaction framed the issue as a direct policy risk, since any disruption to Russian crude imports could affect India’s fuel costs and wider economic interests.
President Trump signed the into law, turning the tariff threat into an active legal tool rather than a proposal. The law authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on goods from the top five buyers of Russian oil or gas, with the measure taking effect after a .
The US House approved the , creating the first direct legal threat to countries still buying Russian oil and gas. The bill gave President Donald Trump authority to impose on imports from the largest Russian-energy buyers, putting India in the crosshairs because of its heavy crude purchases.
Reporting on the new law highlighted that India remains one of the largest buyers of , leaving it exposed to the if purchases continue. The focuses on countries that were among the five biggest importers of Russian oil or gas in the prior 12 months, which makes India a clear candidate for scrutiny.