US ‘very close’ to India trade deal; energy needs considered in Russia sanctions waiver: Marco Rubio

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday that Washington is "very close" to finalizing a trade deal with India, noting that this consideration was among those factored into the decision-making process for national security waivers. Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Rubio expressed the ongoing efforts to finalize the agreement with India, emphasizing its significance in national security discussions.

The U.S. diplomat is set to travel to India on Tuesday for a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai. In light of global energy supply challenges, the U.S. has had to issue several waivers on sanctions related to Russian energy, including those set to take effect under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.

These sanctions, which could have imposed up to 100% tariffs on top purchasers of Russian crude oil or gas, were deferred but not lifted, allowing President Donald Trump to continue using the law at his discretion. When asked about the U.S. stance on countries purchasing Russian energy, Rubio acknowledged high global energy prices but pointed out that the situation is particularly challenging for some nations due to geographical constraints, making it difficult for them to diversify their energy imports.