India-US talks cover Russia sanctions bill, strategic ties

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by Representative Brian Mast on Sunday, discussing the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA) and the future of India-US bilateral ties. The talks covered the full scope of relations, including the recently enacted SRIA legislation, energy security, counter-terrorism, and freedom of navigation. The discussion on SRIA is significant for India as the law provides a mechanism for Washington to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries purchasing Russian energy, though it does not automatically apply such tariffs. Earlier on Friday, Misri held meetings in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with US officials, covering critical technologies, semiconductors, civil nuclear cooperation, and the Pax Silica initiative, which focuses on AI and supply-chain security. These engagements come amid ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between the two nations.