EAM Jaishankar raises concerns with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the SRIA law imposing 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers.
Published: September 23, 2026, 10:36 PM IST
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EAM Jaishankar meets Rubio at UNGA (IANS image)
United Nations: In a significant global development impacting India-US relations, External Affairs Minister SJaishankar raised India’s sharp concerns over new US legislation targeting buyers of Russian crude during a high-stakes bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday in New YorkThe talks focused on the Lindsey OGraham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), which authorizes tariffs up to 100 per cent on major importers of Russian energyMost importantly, New Delhi firmly maintained that national energy security remains paramount for its 1.4 billion citizens.
Impact of US tariffs on India’s exports to the US
If enforced, the tariff would impact India’s exports to the US and come in the way of the trade agreement being negotiated by the two countriesAfter the legislation, named after the late hawkish Senator Lindsay Graham, was passed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said defiantly: “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” the MEA saidIt is estimated that about 37 per cent of Russia’s oil exports go to IndiaTrump had selectively imposed a 25 per cent tariff on India for buying Russian oil, but rescinded it in FebruaryRubio, in his X post about their meeting, was silent on SRIA“Together, we are building on the US-India strategic partnership and coordinating on key regional priorities and upcoming multilateral efforts,” he posted.
Meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio
The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio came on the eve of the scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump of the US and President Xi Jinping of China in WashingtonJaishankar said they also “discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations”.
Good to meet @SecRubio of the US #UNHighLevelWeek
Reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIAAlso discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations.
— DrSJaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 23, 2026
The choking of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in the aftermath of the attack on Iran by Israel and the US has had a significant impact on India, which is a major importer of oil from the Gulf regionLast month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russia’s President Vladimir Putin publicly in strong terms that in the name of humanity he should end the Ukraine war.
The meeting with Rubio is among the series of high-level whirlwind meetings that Jaishankar has been having on the sidelines of the General Assembly’s high-level week, with world leaders and top diplomats gathered here.
