Daleep Singh, the US deputy national security adviser, warned India on Thursday ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s meeting in the Asian country that there will be “consequences” if India tries to circumvent Western sanctions against Moscow imposed over the country Ukraine war were imposed.
Lavrov arrived in India on Thursday evening after completing a two-day visit to China.
India, one of Russia’s key Cold War partners, is working with Moscow on a payment solution to circumvent Western sanctions. Refiners in India have bought Russian oil through spot tenders since the war began on February 24, benefiting from cheap rebates while other buyers are pulling out.
According to Reuters, India has bought at least 13 million barrels of Russian oil since Feb. 24, compared with nearly 16 million barrels for all of 2021. The Asian country is the world’s third-largest oil importer, importing 80 percent of its oil needs. The news agency reported on February 25 that India is considering opening rupee trade accounts with Russia to continue trade with the country and stave off Western sanctions.
Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Russia is offering huge discounts to India to buy oil directly at pre-war prices. Moscow is willing to sell oil for up to $35 a barrel – which could rise to $45 a barrel if fossil fuel prices continue to skyrocket – and wants India to buy 15 million barrels in the first deal.
Singh, who is credited as one of the key architects behind US sanctions on Russia, met with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Thursday, where they discussed economic cooperation and strategic partnerships, according to a tweet by spokesman Arindam Bagchi for the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Later in the day, Jaishankar also met with British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.
In a session with journalists after the meeting, Singh warned that India has continued to import products from Russia since President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24.
“What we do not want to see is a rapid acceleration of India’s imports from Russia in terms of energy or other exports that are currently banned by the US or other aspects of the international sanctions regime,” Singh said. Answering a question on India’s decision to accept Russia’s offer of discounted crude oil.
“I come here in a spirit of friendship to explain the mechanics of our sanctions, the importance of joining us, to express common resolve and to advance common interests. And yes, there are consequences for countries that actively seek to circumvent or supplement these sanctions. he said, also noting that India and Russia are trying to circumvent the sanctions with their own payment system.
“We are very interested that all countries, especially our allies and partners, do not create mechanisms that support the ruble and try to undermine the dollar-based financial system,” he said.
Singh declined to go into details about the consequences.
The official also answered a question about President Joe Biden’s March 22 comments that India’s position in the Quad — the strategic security dialogue between the US, Australia, India and Japan — regarding the Ukraine crisis was “a bit shaky.”
Singh said there was a common recognition in the Quad that “China poses a strategic threat to a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.”
“When you contrast that with the reality that China and Russia have now declared a partnership without borders and that Russia has said that China is more broadly its key strategic partner, it has real implications for India,” Singh said.
“No one should delude themselves – Russia will be the junior partner in this relationship with China. And the more influence China gains over Russia, the less favorable it is for India. I don’t think anyone would believe that if China broke the line of [Actual] Check that Russia comes running to India’s defense.”
Newsweek has reached out to the White House for comment.
Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh answers questions during the daily press briefing at the White House February 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. Singh threatened India on Wednesday ahead of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s meeting in the country, saying there would be “consequences” if India tried to sidestep Western sanctions against Moscow. Getty/Drew Angerer