As Trump gets Russia sanctions power, India warns of ‘potential implications’ for bilateral ties

Sources said the government had conveyed, in the past weeks and months, the adverse impact of such a punishing move on the bilateral relationship to, among others, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

ALSO READ | US’s Russia sanctions bill: Pressure tool and a dilemma for Trump, a worry for India

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to travel to the US for the UNGA session next week, and there could be a window for talks before Rubio heads to India for a bilateral meeting in October. They will also be in Canberra where Quad Foreign Ministers are to meet next month.

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, passed by the US Senate last month, was approved by the House in a 262-159 vote Wednesday evening and will now go to Trump to be signed into law. Besides 203 Republicans, 58 Democrats and an Independent voted in favour of the legislation. Seven Republicans and 152 Democrats opposed it.

The Russia sanctions bill is a Trojan horse—unlikely to result in any new sanctions on Russia.

At a moment when Americans are already facing soaring gas prices, rising mortgage rates, and high inflation, Congress cannot grant Trump more tariff power that we know he will abuse. pic.twitter.com/L2yDuc8qQI

— House Foreign Affairs Committee Dems (@HouseForeign) September 16, 2026

After the passage of the Bill, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, told reporters: “China and India, you better buy your oil and gas somewhere else.”

Responding to this development in the US, the Ministry of External Affairs said, “The Government of India has noted the passage of the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act in the US Congress. We are monitoring further developments on this matter.”

“As stated on several earlier occasions, India remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people. It will continue to do so through diversified sourcing and on the basis of evolving market dynamics,” it said.

“This issue has been discussed at high levels in recent months with various US interlocutors,” the MEA said.

It cautioned about the adverse consequences of the move. “Its potential implications for not just the bilateral relationship but also the international energy market have been very clearly articulated by the Indian side,” it said.

India depends on imports to meet over 88 per cent of its crude oil needs, and Russia currently makes up over half of these imports.

“The Indian side has also made clear its determination to take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests. The Government will work closely with Indian trade and industry bodies to deal with the implications of these developments,” the MEA said.

Many in Delhi view the passage of this Bill as providing a leverage to the Trump administration at a time when it is working to conclude a trade deal with India.

For Delhi, this is a tricky phase. India had signed an interim deal in early February, which was supposed to lead to a full-fledged trade deal. With the US Supreme Court striking down the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, the 50 per cent tariffs on India were removed.