New Delhi, Jul 03: In Washington, amid rising political chatter around a sweeping sanctions bill in the United States Congress targeting Russian oil, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar offered a calm but calculated response. While not dismissing the potential repercussions of the proposed legislation that could slap 500% tariffs on countries importing Russian energy, Jaishankar signaled that India remains alert and engaged with American lawmakers over the matter.
The bill, introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham, proposes steep tariffs not just on Russian oil but on any nation continuing to trade in it, raising concerns in countries like India that have dramatically ramped up purchases from Moscow since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. Russian oil now constitutes over 40% of India’s crude imports — a steep rise from under 1% before the war.
At a press conference during his visit to the US from June 30 to July 2, Jaishankar confirmed that Indian officials are in contact with Graham and others in the US Congress. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” he said, noting that India’s energy and security interests have been clearly communicated. He stopped short of speculating on future steps but said any actual impact would be assessed only if the bill becomes enforceable law.
The proposed measure has already attracted over 80 Senate co-sponsors and, according to Graham, has backing from former President Donald Trump. The momentum suggests growing bipartisan sentiment in Washington to tighten pressure on Moscow and those trading with it. For India, this development comes at a time when its energy partnerships are closely linked with cost-effective Russian crude amid volatile global prices.
While the energy issue dominated headlines, Jaishankar’s trip also brought maritime security into sharp focus. In meetings with fellow Quad members — the United States, Australia, and Japan — he raised alarms over tensions in the South China Sea. He reiterated that maintaining peace and stability in the region was a shared priority for the group. The ministers emphasized freedom of navigation and condemned any actions that threatened to alter territorial realities by force.
The joint statement issued by the four nations reflected strong concern over developments in both the East China Sea and South China Sea, highlighting aggressive behavior such as obstruction of maritime operations, harassment of vessels, and unsafe conduct involving military assets.
While US lawmakers push ahead with economic penalties against those aligned with Moscow, India walks a careful diplomatic line — protecting its interests, reinforcing multilateral ties, and quietly signaling that coercive moves won’t go unnoticed.
