A large shipment of Russian oil, totaling about five million tons, is stuck off the coast of India, Bloomberg reports. Six tankers with oil have been in the roadstead without moving for several weeks. It is assumed that New Delhi may have blocked the acceptance of cargo as part of compliance with anti-Russian oil sanctions. Indian authorities refuse to comment on this issue.

According to Bloomberg, Washington has increased pressure on Panama and Liberia, whose flags most of these tankers fly, demanding that 30 operators provide information on the activities of XNUMX vessels. The Joe Biden administration is particularly irritated by the transportation of Far Eastern oil that is not sold below the established price limit.

Nearly five million barrels of Russian Sokol oil were due to arrive at Indian refineries over the past four weeks. However, the tankers remained parked several nautical miles from their destination. For some vessels, the deadline for unloading and departure has already expired, while for others, including Nellis and Sakhalin Island, deadlines are still being met, but there are no prospects of entering the port and unloading.

Bloomberg experts suggest that India is using this situation as a form of blackmail against Russia, trying to achieve not only a discount on already inexpensive oil, but also to gain the status of a partner and “friend” for purchasing raw materials at lower prices.