Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has renewed his sharp criticism of India’s energy ties with Russia, framing New Delhi’s oil imports as a financial lifeline for the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine. The remarks, made on social media and in press interactions, come as Washington escalates tariff measures against India, branding them both a trade and national security response.
Navarro, a longtime architect of Trump’s economic policies, argued that India’s growing appetite for discounted Russian crude is directly fueling President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign. “American consumers buy Indian goods while India uses our dollars to purchase cheap Russian oil,” Navarro said, describing what he called the “India-Russia oil mathematics.” He accused Indian refiners of working with “silent Russian partners” to re-export processed fuels at a profit, while Moscow pockets hard currency to sustain its war chest.
The Trump aide also ignited controversy by racially profiling Prime Minister Narendra Modi, posting a photo of him meditating in saffron robes with the caption: “The road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi.” Critics slammed the move as insensitive, but Navarro doubled down, saying the U.S. cannot ignore the financial channels that keep Russia’s war machine running.
According to Navarro, Russian oil accounted for less than 1% of India’s imports before the Ukraine conflict, but today makes up more than 30%. India now buys over 1.5 million barrels per day, much of it at steep discounts enabled by Western sanctions. He argued that more than half of this crude is refined and exported globally, effectively turning India into “a massive oil laundromat for the Kremlin.”
India, however, has consistently defended its purchases, stressing that affordable energy is crucial for stabilizing its domestic market and shielding consumers from price shocks. New Delhi has also argued that the U.S. cannot dictate its energy choices, especially when European buyers have continued importing Russian oil indirectly.
Navarro dismissed this reasoning, pointing to America’s $50 billion trade deficit with India. “They make a killing and Ukrainians die,” he declared, adding that India also continues to procure Russian weapons while demanding sensitive U.S. defense technologies. He branded New Delhi’s approach as “strategic freeloading,” accusing it of enjoying U.S. security partnerships while bankrolling Moscow.
The former White House official also criticized the Joe Biden administration for tolerating India’s oil trade, claiming it “looked the other way at this madness.” By contrast, Navarro said Trump’s return to the White House marked a shift. “A 50% tariff 25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security is a direct response,” he said. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner, it must act like one.”
The comments underline the growing friction between Washington and New Delhi over energy, trade, and security, even as both countries publicly describe their relationship as a cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific order. With Trump’s hardline tariffs already in place, India faces mounting pressure to recalibrate its strategy caught between its need for cheap energy and the geopolitical costs of its Russian partnership.