Washington’s message to India is that buying Russian oil is an unacceptable geopolitical choice that will attract punitive tariffs of up to 100% under the new Graham Act. But Washington’s message to itself is that importing Russian diesel is acceptable when American consumers need cheaper fuel.
When India invokes its national interest, Washington calls it sanctions evasion. When Washington invokes its own national interest, it calls it pragmatism.
While seeking to force India to bear the economic costs of America’s Russia policy, it is simultaneously exempting American consumers from those same costs when they become politically painful.
It doesn’t matter to Washington that India, the world’s third largest energy importer, has an obligation, too, to secure affordable and reliable energy for its consumers.
Today, at President Trump’s direction, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is immediately issuing a temporary general license to allow the supply of Russian diesel to the global market.