Zoho founder and chief scientist Sridhar Vembu has voiced strong support for India's BRICS alignment, asserting its strategic importance amidst a potential threat of 100% tariffs on Indian exports from the United States. Vembu's comments come as American lawmakers advance a bill that could impose punitive duties on countries continuing to purchase Russian energy, a measure that could significantly impact India, a major consumer of Russian oil and gas.
US Sanctions Bill Targets Russian Energy Buyers
The proposed legislation, known as the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, recently cleared a crucial procedural hurdle in the US House of Representatives. Following its passage in the Senate last month, the bill is now poised for a final vote in the House. If approved, it would then proceed to President Donald Trump for his signature, potentially enabling the imposition of steep tariffs.
The primary aim of this bill is to intensify economic pressure on Moscow by penalizing nations that maintain energy trade with Russia. India's strengthened energy ties with Russia since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine have become a significant point of friction in its relationship with the United States, placing India directly in the bill's crosshairs.
Vembu Urges Resolve Amidst Global Shifts
"The 100% tariff threat shows exactly why the BRICS move was right. The global order is changing as we speak. This is the time to stay strong and resolute and prepare ourselves," Vembu stated, adding that any difficulties would pass and India would emerge stronger.
This isn't the first time India has faced US tariff actions related to its Russian oil purchases. In August of the previous year, then-President Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, alongside an existing 25% reciprocal tariff. While the Russia-related tariff was later removed in February 2026, and the reciprocal tariff reduced to 18% under a US-India trade framework, a broader bilateral trade agreement remains elusive.
The Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 also seeks to target Russia's leadership, its energy and defense sectors, and its "shadow fleet," accused of facilitating Moscow's evasion of existing oil sanctions. As the global economic landscape continues to shift, India's strategic decisions, particularly its engagement with BRICS and its energy sourcing, are under intense scrutiny.