US Grants India 30-Day Waiver to Keep Buying Russian Oil Amid Policy Shift
The US has granted India a temporary 30-day waiver to continue importing Russian oil. This move follows years of shifting US policy, from threats of sanctions to a more flexible stance. The decision aims to ease global energy pressures amid rising tensions with Iran.
The waiver, however, comes with strict conditions and has sparked political debate in India about energy independence and foreign policy direction.
The US Treasury Department, led by Scott Bessent, issued the waiver to help stabilise global oil markets. It only covers Russian oil loaded onto ships by March 5, with deliveries to Indian ports required before April 4. Purchases must also be made by entities registered under Indian law, and the waiver does not permit other restricted transactions.
This policy shift marks a change from earlier US positions. Under the Trump administration in 2022, Washington criticised India's Russian oil imports, threatening sanctions and enforcing price caps. The Biden administration maintained this stance until early 2026, when the waiver was introduced.
In India, the decision has drawn sharp reactions. Congress MP KC Venugopal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of compromising the country's energy sovereignty. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, questioned whether the US now controls India's oil purchases, stating that foreign policy should reflect the nation's history, geography, and values.
Gandhi had previously warned that India's energy security was at risk, asking if Washington would dictate where the country sources its oil. His latest remarks reinforced concerns about external influence over India's economic and strategic choices.
The 30-day waiver allows Indian refiners to keep buying discounted Russian oil under tight deadlines. It highlights ongoing adjustments in US policy while raising questions in India about long-term energy independence.
Political leaders continue to debate the implications, with criticism focused on whether foreign decisions are shaping India's economic priorities.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
