Russian oil sanctions sword hangs over already-fraught India-US ties

Volatile White House politics leave India-US ties strained; Lindsey Graham Act becomes yet another irritant as India recalibrates foreign policy

The US House of Representatives has passed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, giving President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries buying Russian oil and gas. The Bill, which passed the Senate by an overwhelming 86-11 vote last month, now goes to Trump for his signature.

For India, one of the largest buyers of Russian oil, the legislation could add a new and potentially serious complication to an already difficult relationship with Washington. The Bill does not automatically impose tariffs but gives Trump the power to do so, putting India’s continued reliance on Russian energy squarely in the crosshairs of US policy.

A message to the US?

“India should be worried because it adds another layer of complexity into its negotiations with the US on the trade deal, as it can be used as a pressure tactic. It would loom large in any engagement that India wants to have with the US,” said Harsh Pant, vice-president of the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation.