White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro on Thursday praised India’s leadership while at the same time criticising its continued purchases of Russian crude oil, arguing that New Delhi’s actions are prolonging the Ukraine war.
“The road to peace runs through New Delhi,” Navarro said, while calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a great leader.”
Navarro claimed that India does not depend on Russian oil, noting that before Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, imports from Russia were less than 1% of India’s total crude supply. Today, the figure stands at 35–40%. He accused Indian refiners of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by buying discounted Russian crude, refining it, and selling petroleum products globally at higher prices. According to him, this trade indirectly funds Russia’s war effort.
The adviser also criticised India’s tariff regime, calling it “Maharaja tariffs,” and linked it to America’s widening trade deficit with India, which he said “hurts American workers and businesses.” He added that Washington ends up providing additional aid to Ukraine to counter Russia, which he described as “insane.”
Navarro further alleged that India is “cosying up” to Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning that New Delhi’s current policies are not fostering peace but instead “perpetuating the war.”
His remarks come amid broader debate in Washington on how to balance relations with India. Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley recently urged Donald Trump to strengthen ties with New Delhi, describing India as a “prized free and democratic partner” and the only viable counterweight to China’s growing influence in Asia.
Meanwhile, economist Jeffrey Sachs criticised the steep 50% US tariffs on Indian goods as “self-destructive,” warning that they risk undermining US foreign policy and uniting the BRICS nations against Washington.
China has also opposed the tariffs, with Ambassador Xu Feihong calling them “bullying tactics” and urging stronger Beijing–New Delhi cooperation to protect developing countries and uphold the WTO-led multilateral trading system.
The escalating debate follows Trump’s July announcement of successive tariff hikes on Indian goods, justified on grounds of India’s rising Russian oil imports, despite ongoing discussions on a potential trade deal.