US adviser Navarro urges India to halt purchases of Russian crude

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro stated that India’s continued imports of Russian crude are helping to finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine and must come to an end, accusing New Delhi of “aligning itself with both Russia and China.”

In an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Navarro argued, “If India wishes to be treated as a true strategic partner of the US, it has to behave like one.”

India’s Foreign Ministry has countered such criticism in the past, saying the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil, while the US and EU maintain trade ties with Moscow through other goods.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian products by another 25%—bringing total duties to 50%—citing India’s persistent energy trade with Russia.

According to Navarro, “India has effectively become a global hub for Russian oil, refining sanctioned crude into valuable exports while providing Moscow with the dollars it needs.”

The adviser also said it was risky to transfer cutting-edge US military capabilities to India as New Delhi was “now cozying up to both Russia and China.”

Longtime rivals China and India are quietly and cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of Trump’s unpredictable approach to both.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday for talks on the disputed border between the two countries.

A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been called off, a source said over the weekend, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional US tariffs on Indian goods from August 27.