Foreign secretary Vikram Misri meets US lawmakers; Russia sanctions bill and India-US ties in focus

Foreign Secy Vikram Misri meets US Congressional delegation

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri on Sunday met a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Brian Mast, as the two sides discussed the recently enacted Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA), strategic ties and energy security.The talks also covered the future course of India-US ties, energy security, counter-terrorism, freedom of navigation and other international issues of mutual concern, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that the two sides discussed the entire gamut of the bilateral relationship.“Foreign secretary Vikram Misri met a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by Republican Representative Brian Mast, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”Jaiswal said the discussions covered the “entire gamut” of India-US relations, including the recently enacted Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA).“Discussions covered the entire gamut of India–US relations, including the recently enacted SRIA legislation and the future trajectory of the relationship. They also exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern, energy security, counter-terrorism and freedom of navigation,” the MEA spokesperson noted.

SRIA’s significance for India

The meeting comes as India continues to assess the implications of the US legislation for countries purchasing Russian oil and gas.The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, or SRIA, provides a statutory framework for expanded sanctions, import duties and trade restrictions concerning Russia, while also extending economic measures relating to Iran.The legislation covers Russia’s petroleum and military sectors, government officials, financial institutions and vessels associated with efforts to circumvent restrictions on Russian crude exports.For India, a key provision is the mechanism that could allow Washington to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.Such tariffs would be subject to the conditions set out in the legislation and any subsequent invocation by US President Donald Trump.The legislation does not automatically impose a 100 per cent tariff on Indian goods. It instead gives the US executive branch the authority to impose such tariffs under specified conditions.

Misri’s meetings in New York

The latest meeting followed Misri’s engagements in New York on Friday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).His discussions there covered critical and emerging technologies, Pax Silica, semiconductors, critical minerals, energy security, civil nuclear cooperation and SRIA.Misri met US under secretary of state for economic affairs Jacob Helberg and discussed cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors and critical minerals.“Great to meet under secretary of state for economic affairs Jacob Helberg in New York. Agreed to advance India–US cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, including through Pax Silica, and strengthen cooperation in semiconductors and critical minerals,” Misri said.He also held talks with US under secretary of state for political affairs Allison Hooker on energy security and other strategic issues.“A productive meeting with US under secretary of state for political affairs Allison Hooker in New York today. Discussed various elements of India-US bilateral cooperation, including energy security and the recently enacted SRIA, civil nuclear cooperation, TRUST and the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture initiative,” he said.

Trade talks and strategic cooperation

The meetings come as India and the US continue negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).At the same time, the two countries are expanding cooperation in areas considered strategically important to economic and national security, including supply-chain resilience, advanced technologies and energy.Pax Silica, launched by Helberg in December 2025, is the US State Department’s flagship initiative focused on AI and supply-chain security.The initiative seeks to build cooperation among partner countries around secure and innovative supply chains spanning critical minerals, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI infrastructure.