External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised India's concerns over proposed 100% tariffs on buyers of Russian oil directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Wednesday, 23 September, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly high-level week. The discussions centred on the Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), a piece of US legislation that, if enforced, could significantly disrupt India's energy imports and complicate an ongoing bilateral trade agreement.

What Jaishankar Said

Following the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X that he 'reiterated India's interests and concerns with regard to SRIA.' The minister's public statement signals New Delhi's intent to push back formally against the legislation, which was named after the late hawkish Senator Lindsay Graham. India accounts for an estimated 37% of Russia's total oil exports, making it one of the largest buyers of discounted Russian crude since Western sanctions took hold after the Ukraine war.

India's Energy Security Stance

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had already signalled defiance after the SRIA's passage, stating: '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 statement underscores that New Delhi views its energy procurement decisions as a sovereign matter tied to the welfare of its population, not as political alignment with Moscow.

Trade Deal and Tariff History in Focus

The SRIA carries particular weight because a punitive 100% tariff on Indian exports to the US — triggered by India's Russian oil purchases — would directly undercut the bilateral trade agreement currently being negotiated. This is not the first time Washington has used this lever: the Trump administration had previously imposed a 25% tariff on India over the same issue before rescinding it in February. The recurrence suggests energy trade remains a structural flashpoint in the relationship despite broader strategic convergence.

Rubio's Response and the Wider Context

Rubio's own post on X after the meeting made no mention of the SRIA, instead highlighting broader partnership goals: 'Together, we are building on the US-India strategic partnership and coordinating on key regional priorities and upcoming multilateral efforts.' The omission was notable. The two ministers also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations. The choking of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — following Israeli and US strikes on Iran — has had a direct economic impact on India as a major Gulf oil importer. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last month publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the Ukraine conflict on humanitarian grounds.

Quad Cooperation and the Broader Relationship

The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting came on the eve of a scheduled summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington — a geopolitical backdrop that amplifies the significance of India-US coordination. Despite tensions over SRIA and the stalled trade deal, defence and strategic cooperation remains robust: both nations are members of the Quad, alongside Japan and Australia. At the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in New Delhi in May, the four nations reiterated cooperation on maritime security, port infrastructure, and energy — widely seen as a collective response to China's expanding regional influence.

How New Delhi and Washington navigate the SRIA fault line in the weeks ahead will be a critical test of whether the strategic partnership can hold its course even as energy and trade tensions mount.