Russian oil sparks crisis between India and Washington

India has warned that a U.S. bill imposing sanctions on buyers of Russian oil could harm relations between New Delhi and Washington and disrupt global energy markets, following its passage in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement: “This issue has been discussed at high levels over recent months with various relevant U.S. parties. The Indian side has clearly outlined its potential repercussions, not only on bilateral relations but also on the international energy market.” This marks the first time New Delhi has publicly indicated that the U.S. bill could affect its relationship with Washington. Congress had given final approval to the bill after the Senate easily passed it last month. The legislation grants U.S. President Donald Trump new powers to impose tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil products, and it is now headed to his desk for signature. A White House official said Trump intends to sign it in the coming days. These powers could expose the five largest importers of Russian oil products—including China, India, and Turkey, a U.S. ally—to broad new tariffs. India is currently the largest buyer of seaborne Russian crude, but its refiners have already begun relying on the United States, Brazil, Canada, Venezuela, and Africa for additional and more diversified supplies. This comes as state-owned Indian refiners face growing uncertainty about securing crude supplies, amid overlapping repercussions from the protracted Middle East conflict and the prospect of tighter U.S. restrictions on Russian oil purchases, according to a Bloomberg News report.