The United States is set to sign a Russia sanctions bill that could affect India’s oil imports from Russia, according to reports today.
The legislation, the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, gives the US President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to ensuring energy security for its population of 1.4 billion people.
India has expressed concern over the legislation’s potential impact on bilateral ties and global energy markets.
China has also opposed the bill, with its Foreign Ministry rejecting what it termed ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ and unilateral sanctions without basis in international law.
The legislation, known as the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, gives the US President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas.
The bill does not automatically impose these tariffs on India, but it increases pressure on New Delhi’s energy sourcing decisions going forward.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains committed to ensuring energy security for its population of 1.4 billion people.
India has expressed concern that the legislation’s impact could affect bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington, alongside global energy markets more broadly.
China has also opposed the sanctions bill, with its Foreign Ministry rejecting what it called ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ and unilateral sanctions lacking a basis in international law.
India has significantly increased its imports of discounted Russian crude oil since 2022, making it one of the largest buyers of Russian oil globally.
Indian refiners have cited cost savings from discounted Russian crude as a key factor supporting the country’s energy affordability in recent years.
The US has previously raised concerns over India’s Russian oil purchases, with earlier rounds of tariff threats and penalties discussed in prior years.
Jamnagar Refinery, India (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
