‘He spoke to Putin to buy diesel’: Ex-diplomat Fabian after Trump waives sanctions over Russian oil | India News
NEW DELHI: Former diplomat KP Fabian on Saturday questioned the rationale behind the US tariff pressure on India over Russian oil purchases, arguing that Washington’s own decision to waive sanctions-related duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act exposed a contradiction in its approach.His remarks came after US President Donald Trump earlier today waived sanctions-related duties under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act.Speaking to ANI, Fabian said, “Trump himself spoke to Putin to buy diesel. If America itself is buying, either it should sanction itself, which is ridiculous.”He also argued that the tariff threats against India were a negotiating tactic aimed at securing a favourable trade deal rather than a genuine response to New Delhi’s energy purchases from Russia.“Certain tariffs were imposed, and the court in the United States said that Trump had no business.”Fabian said Trump had avoided directly confronting Chinese President Xi Jinping over Russian oil purchases because China was a major buyer of Russian exports and Washington wanted closer engagement with Beijing.“Contrary to the Lindsey Graham Act, President Trump did not dare to mention it to Xi Jinping because China is a top buyer, 50 per cent of Russia’s exports. India comes next at 37 per cent,” he told ANI.Trump pauses sanctionsHowever, Trump earlier on Saturday paused provisions of the Graham Act that could have imposed tariffs of up to 100% on goods imported into the US from the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas, including India and China.The move comes against the backdrop of rising diesel prices in the US ahead of the November midterm elections and a reported agreement under which Russia would supply diesel fuel to Washington.Trump invoked Section 115 of the Act, which authorises the US president to waive certain sanctions-related provisions and restrictions involving foreign entities.“I have submitted to the Congress a certification that the issuance of such a waiver is in the national interests of the United States and a report explaining the basis for the certification, consistent with section 115(b) of the Graham Act,” Trump said in the order.
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What it means for IndiaRussia continues to be the single largest supplier of oil for India. A waiver of tariffs of up to 100% which may have come into place in the coming days means that India can continue importing oil in large numbers from Moscow without any economic fallout.If 100% tariffs had been imposed by the Trump administration, then it would have hit exporters as the US is the largest trading partner for India. At the same time, any sanctions may have rendered Russian crude economically unviable which would have added to the supply crunch at a time when Middle East tensions continue.
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