New Delhi: US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died after a "brief and sudden" illness, according to his office. He was 71. Graham, a senator from South Carolina, died on Saturday (local time), his office said in a post on X. He was widely known in India for supporting tariffs on the country over its Russian oil purchases and for advocating 500 per cent tariffs on nations that continued importing Russian energy.

"On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness," said the statement. "Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," it said.

Lindsey Graham's controversial remarks against India

The US has been targeting India for its Russian oil purchases, with President Donald Trump imposing tariffs on Indian exports to the US to discourage the country's crude buying. Last year, Graham made a series of controversial comments against India, which ultimately irked New Delhi. He had supported the American move of advancing 500 per cent tariff on India.

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Graham often linked India, China and other countries for continuing to purchase Russian oil, arguing that such imports were helping finance Moscow's war in Ukraine. Referring to US President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports imposed last year, Graham claimed that New Delhi was "experiencing the cost of supporting" Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also warned that other nations continuing to trade with Russia could face similar consequences.

When India rejected Lindsey Graham's bullies

Later in September last year, Indian Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri rejected the claims and said India has not "profiteered" from Russian oil imports and its purchases had stabilised markets while keeping prices from rising to as much as USD 200 a barrel.

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Just a day before his death, Graham, along with Republican Senator Roger Wicker and Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal and Jeanne Shaheen, announced that they had reached an understanding with the Trump administration to move forward with updated Russia sanctions legislation.

The bipartisan proposal aims to target countries that continue importing Russian oil and natural gas. If passed, the legislation could have significant implications for India, which remains one of the world's largest buyers of Russian crude oil.

(With inputs from agency)

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