U.S. Pushes To End Russian Oil Waiver Used By India
India-West News Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Trump administration is seeking to end the sanctions waivers that have allowed India and other countries to continue purchasing Russian oil, reviving a recurring issue in U.S.-India relations.
Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 2, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration wants to end the exemptions “as soon as we possibly can,” stressing that U.S. policy remains focused on sanctioning Russian oil exports.
“We would like to end it as soon as we possibly can because the underlying policy of this country has been to sanction their oil,” Rubio told lawmakers. He said the waivers were introduced as temporary measures to increase global oil supplies and help ease the impact of rising energy prices on economies around the world.
The United States first granted the waiver in March and has extended it twice since then, most recently on May 17 for another month. India has been among the countries benefiting from the arrangement.
The issue carries particular importance for India, which depends on imports for nearly 90 percent of its oil needs. Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, India has increased purchases of discounted Russian crude, making Moscow one of its largest energy suppliers.
Data from energy intelligence firm Kpler showed India imported a record 2.3 million barrels per day of Russian crude last month, supported by the continued waiver.
Analysts have said those purchases helped ease pressure on global energy markets during the conflict with Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. If the waiver is allowed to expire, Indian refiners may have to turn to more expensive sources of crude.
For much of the conflict, Western governments criticized purchases of Russian oil while also accepting the role those supplies played in helping stabilize global markets. Analysts noted that continued purchases by countries such as India helped keep Russian crude flowing into international markets, reducing the risk of sharper increases in energy prices.
The comments come as the Trump administration seeks to end the temporary exemptions. At the same time, Washington has sought to reassure New Delhi that the measures are not aimed specifically at India.
Last week, Rubio said sanctions were “never aimed at India per se,” as the administration seeks to balance pressure on Moscow with its broader strategic partnership with New Delhi.
India has consistently maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interest, affordability and energy security. Indian leaders have repeatedly defended the country’s right to buy oil from suppliers that best meet its needs and have emphasized that such decisions are made independently by New Delhi.
The issue has also prompted discussion among some Indian analysts, who note that China remains a major buyer of Russian energy. They argue that broader strategic and economic considerations often influence how sanctions policies are applied.
