India vows to protect its energy interests and warns 100% US tariffs on Russian oil could sour ties with Washington

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

India's foreign ministry has hit back at Washington after the US House of Representatives passed a wide-ranging sanctions bill granting Trump the authority to levy tariffs of up to 100% on nations that purchase Russian oil, with New Delhi cautioning that the measure risks harming bilateral relations. The bill still requires Trump's signature to become law.

In July, Russia alone provided India with more crude oil than the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Brazil, Oman and the US put together.

India described the US bill as "a blunt and dangerous attempt to pressurise India to sign the bilateral trade agreement on one-sided terms."

Russia's crude exports went to China in equal measure — Beijing took half of total shipments — leaving it just as exposed as India and raising the prospect of a three-way clash among Washington, Beijing and New Delhi.