September 25, 2026: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised India’s interests and concerns over the US Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on September 23. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, where Jaishankar is leading the Indian delegation.

Jaishankar said after the meeting that he had “reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIA”, while also discussing the Gulf and Ukraine situations with Rubio. The US legislation, signed into law by President Donald Trump, gives the administration authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on goods from certain countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The legislation does not itself mean that a 100% tariff has automatically been imposed on India.

The issue is significant for India because the country remains a major importer of Russian crude. India has maintained that its energy purchases are guided by energy security and diversified sourcing. Recent data also show that Indian imports of Russian oil declined in August, while refiners have been increasing purchases from other suppliers amid uncertainty over possible US measures.

The new US law also comes against the backdrop of continuing India-US trade negotiations. Additional tariffs linked to Russian energy purchases could have implications for Indian exports to the US, making the issue part of the wider economic and diplomatic discussions between the two countries. India has been engaging with Washington on the potential implications of the legislation.

(Source: Sarkaritel)