Reliance Industries Ltd., India's largest private refiner, has recently intensified its procurement of Middle Eastern crude oil, purchasing at least 2.5 million barrels from Iraq and Qatar. This strategic move comes in response to increasing Western pressure on India to reduce its imports of Russian oil. The European Union's impending ban on fuels refined from Russian crude, set to take effect in January 2026, further influences this shift. Reliance's diversification efforts aim to mitigate risks associated with its heavy reliance on Russian energy supplies.