Washington – Former US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro has launched fresh criticism at India, accusing New Delhi of indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine through discounted oil purchases. He alleged that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people” and defended Washington’s steep tariffs on Indian imports.
Navarro’s Remarks on Russian Oil
Speaking to Fox News, Navarro questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance on global alliances. “Modi’s a great leader, but why is he getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping when India is the world’s largest democracy? You’ve got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop,” he said.
Navarro argued that before the Ukraine war, India bought minimal Russian oil. But since Moscow began offering discounts, India has ramped up imports, refined the crude, and resold it globally at a profit. “It fuels the Russian war machine,” he added, reviving his earlier description of India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin.”
Defense of Tariffs on India
The Trump aide justified the 50% tariffs imposed on Indian goods, claiming they were necessary to counter India’s high domestic tariffs, which he described as “the highest in the world.” He argued that US workers and taxpayers were being hurt while Indian refiners and Russian suppliers gained.
“India uses our dollars to buy discounted Russian crude. This isn’t just about unfair trade—it’s about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putin’s war machine,” Navarro said in a post on X.
Broader Attacks and Context
Navarro has repeatedly targeted India over its oil trade with Russia, previously dubbing the Ukraine conflict “Modi’s war” and warning that New Delhi risked aligning itself with authoritarian regimes in Moscow and Beijing.
He claimed that Russian crude now accounts for more than 30% of India’s imports—up from less than 1% before the invasion—and accused Indian refiners of making “huge profits” while Ukraine pays the price.
On China Negotiations
While critical of India, Navarro expressed optimism about US trade talks with China, saying that tariffs exceeding 50% provide Washington with strong leverage. He noted that the November 10 deadline for progress in talks was “realistic.”
As Washington’s rhetoric hardens, India faces increasing scrutiny over its balancing act between buying Russian oil, maintaining ties with the West, and preserving its independent foreign policy.
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