Background
Overview
India's trade relations with countries like Russia and Iran often put it at risk of secondary sanctions, challenging its strategic autonomy and economic interests. UPSC frequently asks about the implications of such measures for India's foreign policy and its ability to maintain diversified international relations.
Secondary sanctions are a type of economic sanction that targets third-party entities (individuals, companies, or countries) for engaging in specific transactions or relationships with a primary sanctioned entity. Unlike primary sanctions, which directly target the sanctioned country, secondary sanctions aim to deter non-sanctioning countries from doing business with the primary target, thereby extending the reach of the sanctioning country's laws beyond its borders.