Peter Navarro, former trade adviser to ex-US President Donald Trump, has escalated his criticism of India and the BRICS alliance, warning that New Delhi’s stance on Russian oil imports and high tariffs could “end badly” for the country.

The ‘Tariff Maharaja’ Remark

Speaking on Real America’s Voice, Navarro repeated his claim that India is the “Maharaja of tariffs,” accusing New Delhi of maintaining the steepest trade barriers among major economies. “They have the highest tariffs in any major country in the world against the United States. We got to deal with that,” he said.

Russian Oil and Sanctions

Navarro alleged that India profited from discounted Russian crude following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. He argued that American taxpayers were indirectly bearing the burden of India’s purchases.
Historically, India relied more on Middle Eastern crude, but its imports from Russia surged after the G7 imposed a price cap in 2022. US officials have previously acknowledged that India’s role in buying capped oil was built into the sanction framework to keep global supplies stable.

Trade Ties and US Pressure

Listing recent US trade deals with the European Union, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Indonesia, Navarro insisted India must eventually “come around.” He warned, “If it doesn’t, it’s lying down with Russia and China, and that won’t end well for India.”

Attack on BRICS

Turning to the BRICS grouping, Navarro described member countries as “vampires” draining the US through “unfair trade practices.” He claimed the alliance was unstable, pointing to longstanding rivalries: “I don’t see how the BRICS stays together since historically they all hate each other and kill each other.”
He further criticised China’s expansion in Siberia, its ties with Pakistan, and naval presence in the Indian Ocean, while also attacking Brazil’s economic policies.

Clash Over Social Media

Navarro’s remarks followed the latest BRICS virtual summit, attended by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Soon after, he clashed with Indian users on social media platform X, accusing them of manipulating a poll he launched about Indian oil imports from Russia.
“India has the largest population in the world & all it can do is manage a few hundred thousand X propagandists to jerk around a poll? Too funny,” he posted.
Out of over 56,000 votes, a majority of respondents dismissed his claims. Navarro, however, doubled down, accusing “Indian special interests” of spreading misinformation.
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