BRICS Defies US Sanctions with Increased Russian Oil Purchases
India has escalated its energy trade with Russia, ordering 1.7 million barrels of oil in November—a 3.4% increase from October—despite mounting pressure from the US to comply with sanctions. December saw another 1.2 million barrels shipped, signaling a strategic pivot by BRICS nations toward local currency settlements and away from the dollar.
State-run refiners like Indian Oil Corp and Bharat Petroleum are leading the charge, with Hindustan Petroleum negotiating to resume imports by 2026. The rupee-ruble-yuan payment axis is yielding billions in forex savings, turning US sanctions into an unintended boon for the bloc.