US Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick reports that Indian refiners are planning to lessen their imports of Russian oil. This announcement comes after a visit to India, Pakistan, and Nepal. Fitzpatrick suggests the move is a direct result of continuous pressure from the United States. During their time in India, the delegation held important discussions with top officials, including the External Affairs Minister and National Security Advisors. These discussions, alongside consistent diplomatic efforts, seem to have led to preliminary indications from Indian refiners about the intention to reduce Russian oil purchases. This is happening while economic issues mount between the two countries. The US has put tariffs on Indian imports, with additional charges linked to the purchase of Russian oil.
Fitzpatrick says the decrease in Russian oil imports would hurt Russia’s war effort. The congressional delegation’s work in India is credited with helping to generate early signs of reduced Russian oil imports. The delegation also visited Pakistan and Nepal, engaging in discussions focused on counterterrorism efforts, intelligence sharing, and regional security cooperation.