Amid tensions between the two countries after Washington imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, US Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, following a high-level intelligence visit to India, said that Indian refiners are signalling plans to cut their imports of Russian oil in response to “sustained US pressure.”
While in India, Fitzpatrick met with the Foreign Minister and National Security Advisors for a high-level strategic dialogue and led comprehensive oversight of US Embassy operations in New Delhi, said an official statement of the Congressman. He conducted briefings with senior diplomatic officials, met with Marine Security Guards protecting US personnel, and visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha—a spiritual and cultural institution with strong ties to Bucks and Montgomery counties.
“Following these engagements and sustained US pressure, Indian refiners are signaling plans to reduce imports of Russian oil—a consequential shift that directly undermines Moscow’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine. This development underscores the impact of principled American leadership and high-level diplomatic engagement,” said the statement.
“In India, our direct engagement helped catalyse early signals that the government will reduce its imports of Russian oil–a meaningful step toward weakening Moscow’s capacity for aggression and aligning our partners with the cause of freedom,” the US Congressman said in a statement issued in the release.
Brian Fitzpatrick, who serves as Chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, was joined on the mission by Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, also a member of the House Intelligence Committee.
The Congressman also conducted oversight visits to the US Embassy in New Delhi, met with diplomatic and security personnel, and visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has sharply ramped up Russian crude purchases since 2022, rising from under 1 per cent of imports to nearly 40 per cent . In 2024–25, Russia accounted for 36 per cent of India’s 5.4 million barrels per day of imports, overtaking Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US. New Delhi maintains that its oil trade with Moscow does not breach any international laws, noting that no sanctions prohibit crude purchases.
While the EU recently banned refined fuel made from Russian oil, the US has not applied similar restrictions. Trade tensions escalate India’s Russian oil imports have become a flashpoint in broader trade discussions with Washington. In addition to the 50 per cent tariff on crude, the US has imposed a 25 per cent duty on other Indian goods.
