NEW DELHI, September 23. /TASS/. The law on new US sanctions, which provides for restrictions against main buyers of Russian energy resources (Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act), will not affect India’s oil purchases from Russia, Arvind Kumar, Professor at the School of International Relations at Nalanda University, told TASS.

"Basically, there is no impact on India. India is very confident to keep buying oil from Russia. So, this newly signed Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act by [US] President [Donald] Trump virtually will have no meaning for India," the expert said. "India is also going to be more confident in terms of its assertiveness in its foreign policy in working with the Russian Federation and keep continuing its ongoing cooperation," he added.

According to Kumar, Trump "is not understanding the larger issue that could perhaps impede the overall direct relations between India and the US." "The way they have signed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which gives the US government the power to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that buy Russian oil and gas, is perhaps going to impact the US negatively. I think that is something which they have to consider because that will perhaps delay the whole process of the trade negotiation with India," he stressed.

"I think India’s reaction will be mute <…>. I think India will not do anything which is going to be in fact closed door. India will certainly negotiate with the US from a position of strength and that strength will obviously see that President Trump gives waiver to India," the expert said, adding that "the US will be very cautious in terms of dealing with India." "India will have the geopolitical space to work with both the US and Russia," he concluded.

On September 18, US President Donald Trump signed a bill designed to expand sanctions against Russia. It also provides for secondary sanctions against Russia’s trading partners, among other things. The document authorizes the US to impose 100% import tariffs on countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas. India is among them.