Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to the White House, has intensified his criticism of India's stance on the Ukraine conflict. He accused New Delhi of profiting from the war and labeled the country a 'laundromat' for Russian oil, suggesting it is a hub for cleaning Russian oil and re-exporting it.
According to Navarro, the assertion that India needs Russian oil is 'nonsense.' He warned that President Donald Trump is unlikely to extend the deadline of August 27 for doubling tariffs on India as a penalty for its purchases of Russian crude oil.
Navarro stated that he foresees the imposition of these secondary tariffs on August 27, just six days away. He claimed that India 'doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed' and is instead 'cosying up to Xi Jinping.'
The former Trump aide argued that Indian refiners are making significant profits while simultaneously fueling the war. He called it a 'refining profiteering scheme.'
Navarro explained the cycle, "India uses the money that they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which then is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there. But then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians, and so American taxpayers have to provide more aid, military style, to the Ukrainians. So that’s insane."
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While he offered some praise for India's leadership, he urged New Delhi to change its course. "I love India. Look, (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is a great leader. But please, please India, like, look at what your role here is in the global economy. What you’re doing right now is not creating peace, it’s perpetuating the war."
Navarro pointed out the potential combined impact of tariffs, stating, "When you think about the tariffs we are putting in place 25 pc because they cheat us on trade, 25 pc because of the Russian oil, I ask you what is the net impact on Americans?"
He further described India's trade policies as 'Maharaja tariffs' due to their high rates and said they have high non-tariff barriers. He argued that the US has a "massive trade deficit" with India, which harms American workers and businesses. He reiterated his point that India uses the money from this trade to buy Russian oil, which is then refined for profit.
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Navarro, in a quip, suggested that "the road to peace runs through New Delhi," stressing that India should stop providing an economic lifeline to Moscow. These strong remarks highlight the Trump administration's firm stance on India's energy trade with Russia. Navarro asserted that "President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully. And you guys need to write about that."
Navarro's comments come in the wake of a response from India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, who had addressed previous American criticism of India's energy ties with Russia. Jaishankar had stated that the U.S. itself had asked New Delhi to help stabilize global energy markets by purchasing Russian oil.
Earlier, Navarro had written an opinion piece in the Financial Times where he criticised India for its acquisition of Russian crude oil, stating that the justification that India needs Russian oil for its energy requirements is illogical.
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