India warns US tariffs on Russian oil could strain ties

India’s Ministry of External Affairs isn’t mincing words. New US legislation that could slap tariffs of up to 100% on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and gas, India chief among them, threatens to damage one of the most strategically important bilateral relationships in the world. The warning came on September 17, 2026, one day after the US House of Representatives passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by a vote of 262-159. The bill, now awaiting President Trump’s signature, would give the White House authority to impose punishing tariffs on countries that continue purchasing Russian energy at scale. What the bill actually does The legislation authorizes tariffs of up to 100% on major importers of Russian oil and gas, with India and China sitting squarely in the crosshairs. For India, the stakes are enormous. Russia accounted for 30.3% of India’s crude imports in FY2026, a trade worth $40.8 billion out of $134.7 billion in total oil imports. After Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Indian refiners pivoted aggressively toward discounted Russian barrels while Western buyers pulled back, helping keep India’s fuel costs lower for its 1.4 billion citizens...