Amid concerns over Russia sanctions law, Foreign Secretary meets U.S. delegation

India-US Bilateral Relations · 28 September 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

Worth reading — 1 past UPSC question on this theme (Mains GS-2 2019).

2-minute summary

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with a five-member U.S. Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast to address India's concerns regarding the newly enacted 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act' (SRIA). Passed by the U.S. Congress on September 16, 2026, the SRIA mandates that the U.S. President impose up to 100% secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian crude oil, alongside extending trade sanctions on Iran. This development directly threatens India's energy security, as India has significantly scaled up Russian crude imports since 2022. The diplomatic outreach, which also involved External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raising concerns with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, highlights India's ongoing challenge of balancing its vital strategic partnership with the U.S. while preserving its strategic autonomy and securing affordable energy resources.

Why it's in the news

The meeting was triggered by the passage of the U.S. Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) on September 16, 2026, which introduces secondary sanctions targeting major buyers of Russian oil, including India, with a 30-day determination deadline pending.

Facts to remember

The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act mandates that the U.S. President impose up to 100% secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian crude oil.
The SRIA legislation was passed by the U.S. Congress on September 16, 2026.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with a five-member U.S. Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast.

Background and context

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, India has adopted a pragmatic foreign policy, significantly increasing its purchase of discounted Russian crude oil to stabilize domestic fuel prices and curb inflation. This has drawn persistent criticism and legislative pushback from the United States and European allies, who seek to isolate Russia economically. Historically, India has navigated similar unilateral U.S. measures, such as the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) targeting defense purchases like the S-400 missile system, by securing strategic waivers. The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) of 2026 represents a fresh legislative escalation, mandating secondary sanctions and high tariffs on oil-importing nations, testing the resilience of the India-U.S. comprehensive global strategic partnership.

Constitutional provisions

Article 73 — Deals with the executive power of the Union, which extends to matters with respect to which Parliament has power to make laws, including the conduct of foreign affairs.
Seventh Schedule (List I - Union List) — Entries 10 (Foreign Affairs), 13 (Participation in international conferences, associations and other bodies), and 14 (Entering into treaties and agreements with foreign countries) vest exclusive jurisdiction over foreign policy in the Central Government.

International organisations

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee — A standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives with jurisdiction over bills and investigations concerning the foreign affairs of the United States, led by Chairman Brian Mast during this bilateral exchange.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

Mains GS-2 2019 — 'What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India's national self-esteem and ambitions.' Explain with suitable examples.

Mains practice: Analyze the impact of unilateral secondary sanctions by partner nations on India's strategic autonomy and energy security. How should India navigate this diplomatic challenge?

Unilateral secondary sanctions, such as the recently enacted U.S. Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), present a complex challenge to India's foreign policy. Unlike primary sanctions, secondary sanctions target third-party entities and sovereign nations conducting business with sanctioned states, directly threatening India's sovereign decision-making.

• Impact on Energy Security: India imports over 80% of its crude oil requirements. Access to discounted Russian crude has been vital in managing fiscal deficits, stabilizing domestic inflation, and ensuring uninterrupted energy supplies. Secondary sanctions threaten to disrupt these supply chains and escalate import bills.

• Challenge to Strategic Autonomy: India's foreign policy is anchored in strategic autonomy—the freedom to make foreign policy decisions based solely on national interest. Unilateral sanctions bypass the United Nations framework and pressure India to align with Western geopolitical objectives, undermining its independent stance.

• Economic and Trade Friction: High tariffs (up to 100%) or exclusion from dollar-based clearing systems could jeopardize India's robust trade relationship with the U.S., which exceeds $190 billion, and impact critical technology transfers.

To navigate this challenge, India should adopt a multi-pronged strategy:

• High-Level Diplomatic Engagement: India must leverage its indispensable role in the Indo-Pacific security architecture (e.g., via the Quad) to negotiate national interest waivers, demonstrating that a weakened Indian economy serves no democratic partner's interest.

• Alternative Payment Mechanisms: Accelerate the operationalization of non-dollar trade settlement mechanisms, such as rupee-ruble or rupee-dirham arrangements, and strengthen alternative messaging systems.

• Energy Diversification: Accelerate the transition to renewable energy while diversifying crude oil import sources across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America to reduce vulnerability to single-country sanctions.

In conclusion, while India must protect its core energy and economic interests, it must do so without permanently damaging its strategic partnership with the U.S., balancing both through quiet, pragmatic diplomacy.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. With reference to international trade and geopolitics, the term 'Secondary Sanctions' refers to:

Sanctions imposed collectively by the United Nations Security Council on an aggressor state.
Tariffs levied on secondary sector manufactured goods to protect domestic industries.
Restrictions placed on dual-use technology transfers to developing countries.
Sanctions targeted at third-party countries or foreign entities doing business with a primary sanctioned nation.

Answer: D. Secondary sanctions target non-citizens and foreign companies (third parties) for conducting transactions with sanctioned countries or entities, even if there is no direct connection or nexus to the sanctioning country.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act' (SRIA): 1. It is a legislative measure passed by the European Parliament. 2. It mandates the imposition of sanctions on countries importing Russian crude oil. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: B. Statement 1 is incorrect; the SRIA is a U.S. Congressional Act passed in September 2026. Statement 2 is correct; it mandates that the U.S. President impose up to 100% sanctions on countries buying Russian oil and extends trade sanctions on Iran.

Q3. Under the Constitution of India, 'Foreign Affairs' and 'Entering into treaties and agreements with foreign countries' fall under which of the following?

The Concurrent List of the Seventh Schedule
The Union List of the Seventh Schedule
The State List of the Seventh Schedule
The Residuary Powers vested in the State Legislatures

Answer: B. Foreign affairs, treaties, and international agreements are exclusive federal subjects listed under the Union List (List I) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India.

Revision flashcards

What is the primary objective of the U.S. Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions against Russia and Iran Act (SRIA)? Passed in September 2026, it mandates the U.S. President to impose up to 100% secondary sanctions on countries importing Russian crude oil and extends trade sanctions on Iran.
How do 'Primary Sanctions' differ from 'Secondary Sanctions'? Primary sanctions prohibit domestic citizens/companies from trading with a sanctioned nation. Secondary sanctions penalize foreign third-parties (like India) for trading with the sanctioned nation.
What is 'Strategic Autonomy' in the context of Indian Foreign Policy? The policy of maintaining independence in decision-making on global issues, ensuring India is not aligned with any single power bloc and acts solely in its national interest.
Which previous U.S. legislation threatened India with sanctions over the S-400 missile system purchase from Russia? CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), which targets Russian defense and intelligence sectors.
Which constitutional provisions govern the conduct of India's foreign policy? Article 73 (extent of executive power of the Union) and Entries 10 to 14 of the Union List (List I) in the Seventh Schedule.