White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has stated that India’s purchases of Russian crude oil are providing funds for Russia’s war in Ukraine and must cease. In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times, Navarro wrote that New Delhi is “now cozying up to both Russia and China.” He added, “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to start acting like one.”
Previously, India’s Foreign Ministry has argued that the country is being unfairly targeted for buying Russian oil while the United States and the European Union also continue to purchase goods from Russia.
This month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil. This move will increase the total tariffs on imports from India to 50%. Navarro wrote, “India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs.”
The advisor also suggested that India’s close ties with Russia and China make it risky to transfer advanced U.S. military technology to the country.
Separately, the head of finance for Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country’s leading refiner, Anuj Jain, told analysts that the company will continue to buy Russian oil based on economic factors. He noted that Russian oil processing for his company in the June quarter was approximately 24% compared to an average of 22% in 2024-25. He mentioned that purchases for the September quarter are ongoing and that discounts on Russian oil are around $1.50 per barrel relative to the Dubai benchmark.
