White House trade adviser Peter Navarro stated that India’s purchases of Russian crude oil are funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and must cease. He added that New Delhi is “now cozying up to both Russia and China.”
In an opinion piece published in the Financial Times, Navarro wrote, “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.” India’s Foreign Ministry has previously argued that it is being unfairly targeted for buying Russian oil, while the United States and the European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, which brought the total tariffs on Indian imports to 50%.
Navarro called India a “global clearinghouse for Russian oil,” which “converts embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs.”
US Military Concerns and India-China Relations
The adviser also expressed concerns about transferring cutting-edge US military technology to India, citing the country’s growing alignment with both Russia and China as a significant risk. Amidst President Trump’s unpredictable approach, longtime rivals China and India are cautiously strengthening their ties. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India starting Monday for talks on the disputed border.
A source confirmed over the weekend that a planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been canceled. This delay in talks on a proposed trade agreement has dashed hopes for a reprieve from the additional US tariffs on Indian goods set to take effect on August 27.
