Indonesia will keep buying Russian crude despite new US law threatening 100 per cent tariffs

Indonesia plans to continue importing discounted Russian crude oil, citing domestic energy needs and fiscal pressure, despite a new US law that authorizes tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top buyers of Russian oil, gas, and military equipment.

President Donald Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 on Friday. The law also gives him authority to impose sanctions on Russia and targets Moscow's "shadow fleet" — a network of ageing or obscurely owned tankers that Russia uses to move oil while evading Western sanctions and the G7 price cap on Russian crude. Those ships often operate under complex ownership structures and flags of convenience, making them harder to trace.

Indonesia has not indicated it will alter its purchasing plans in response to the law. The US legislation names the top five buyers of Russian crude as potential tariff targets but does not specify which countries currently occupy those positions.