External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said India has officially expressed its concerns to US senator Lindsey Graham on a proposed bill seeking to impose a 500 per cent tariff on countries importing crude oil from Russia.
“Regarding Senator Lindsey Graham’s bill, any development which is happening in the US Congress is of interest to us if it impacts our interest or could impact our interest. So we have been in touch with Senator Lindsey Graham. The embassy, ambassador have been in touch,” Jaishankar told reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
He said Graham has been made aware of India’s concerns and interests in the energy and security space. “We’ll then have to cross that bridge when we come to it, if we come to it,” he added.
Experts on Russian-US affairs indicated that India could be seeking a waiver under the bill.
The bill proposes to levy a 500 per cent tariff on any nation that buys Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other products. The bill has over 80 co-sponsors in the Senate, potentially making it veto-proof.
Speaking to ABC news on Sunday, Graham claimed US President Trump told him that the sanctions bill should be brought forward for a vote.
Earlier in May, Graham said he is in touch with Trump about the bill. Republican lawmakers have indicated they are worried about moving the bill but are waiting for Trump’s approval before bringing it to the floor of the Senate.
The proposed bill comes amid efforts by the White House to stabilise ties with the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar also acknowledged the challenge of finding consensus among international partners. He said countries are not supporting each other “sufficiently enough” when countering terrorism.
“Part of diplomacy is to exhort them, encourage them, persuade them, motivate them to do that, and which is why it’s important to speak up, and which is why it’s important to carry them with us to the best possibility,” he said.
