Tensions simmer between India and the US as a new Senate bill aims to slap massive penalties on Russian oil importers. Ashok Mago, influential Indian-American Republican and US-India Chamber of Commerce chairman, flagged serious risks to bilateral ties in a pointed interview. The proposal, led by Senator Lindsey Graham, empowers the President to ramp up duties dramatically—up to 500%—on nations like India sustaining Russia’s energy revenues.
This comes at a precarious moment, with Delhi and Washington deep in tariff discussions. Mago warned that the bill’s aggressive stance could torpedo these efforts, hurting businesses on both sides. Graham touted the measure as Trump’s-backed strategy to counter Putin, especially as Ukraine offers concessions while Russia persists in violence.
‘Cheap Russian oil funds the war; this bill forces buyers to stop,’ Graham asserted, targeting major purchasers including India. Yet Mago highlighted domestic blowback: skyrocketing prices for Indian goods in US kitchens, directly impacting the Indian diaspora.
A key architect of the landmark civil nuclear agreement, Mago received India’s Padma Shri in 2014 for bridging the two nations. He advocated for a balanced tariff framework benefiting both democracies. ‘Indian-Americans pour billions into America’s economy—tech innovators, medical pioneers, entrepreneurs,’ he noted, stressing their loyalty and stakes.
Echoing the warmth of ‘Howdy Modi,’ Mago called for restraint. ‘Senators, hold off; explore all avenues for a win-win deal.’ He envisioned renewed cooperation, leveraging India’s population and US global clout for world peace, confident issues would resolve through negotiation without economic harm.