NEW DELHI:
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly responded to
legislative developments in Washington that could authorize the US President to
impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian energy. Official
spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India’s energy sourcing decisions
remain strictly guided by national interest, market dynamics, and the critical
imperative to secure affordable energy for its 1.4 billion citizens.
The
official statement follows the US House of Representatives passing the Sanctioning
Russia and Iran Act of 2026. The bill empowers the US executive branch to
levy steep punitive tariffs on major buyers of Russian crude and natural gas,
directly putting key importers like India, China, and several European nations
under potential economic pressure.
Key Takeaways from the MEA Statement
·
National Interest & Diversified Sourcing: The MEA emphasized that New Delhi will continue ensuring the
country’s energy security through diversified sourcing based on evolving
commercial market dynamics.
·
High-Level Bilateral Dialogues: Indian officials noted that the matter has been raised at
senior levels with US interlocutors, clearly articulating how secondary tariffs
could negatively impact both India-US bilateral ties and global energy
stability.
·
Protecting Economic Interests: New Delhi affirmed its determination to take all necessary
measures in consultation with domestic trade and industry bodies to safeguard
India's trade and economic interests if the legislation is signed into law.
·
Diplomacy over Sanctions: EAM
S. Jaishankar has previously reiterated that global geopolitical conflicts
cannot be resolved by manipulating commodity supply chains or restricting oil
purchases, maintaining that dialogue and negotiation remain the only viable
paths forward.
