Peter Navarro accuses India of fueling Russia’s Ukraine war, calling it a Kremlin oil “laundromat” while slamming trade barriers. Photo/X-ANI.
Peter Navarro, the White House trade adviser, has made several comments against India over the last few days. After US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs came into effect, Navarro has appeared on various TV interviews justifying the action against India while accusing New Delhi of starting Russia’s war in Ukraine. In his latest, the Trump advisor has this time accused of “a laundromat” charge.
Navarro on Friday posted a series of tweets on X to defend Trump’s tariffs and accused India of turning “into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin”.
“Indian refiners buy cheap Russian oil, process it, and export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia – shielded from sanctions under the pretense of neutrality,” Navarro wrote.
Many of Navarro’s remarks intensify his earlier accusations, including claims that India was indirectly fueling the war in Ukraine. He has long alleged that Russia uses the revenue from its oil sales to India to finance its “war machine” in Ukraine.
Pointing out the scale of purchases, Navarro stated that India’s imports of Russian oil had risen sharply to 30%, from just 1% before the invasion of Ukraine.
“This surge isn’t driven by domestic demand—it’s driven by Indian profiteers and carries an added price of blood and devastation in Ukraine,” he wrote.
Navarro further accused India of using US dollars to buy discounted Russian crude.
“American consumers buy Indian goods while India keeps out US exports through high tariffs and non-tariff barriers,” he alleged.
The trade adviser also extended his criticism beyond oil, pointing to India’s continued defense trade with Russia. He described India’s purchase of Russian military equipment as strategic “freeloading.”
“India continues to buy Russian weapons—while demanding that US firms transfer sensitive military tech and build plants in India,” Navarro wrote.
Friday’s comments are the latest in a string of sharp attacks Navarro has made against New Delhi. Previously, he has branded India as the “Maharaja of tariffs,” accused it of “cozying up to Xi Jinping,” and even referred to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war.”
While Navarro continues to mount criticism, India has reiterated that its energy decisions are based on market availability and global conditions. New Delhi has stressed that its oil trade, including with Russia, is guided by prevailing market dynamics and national interest.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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