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White House Adviser Blasts India for Buying Russian Oil, Warns of US Fallout
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine through its continued purchases of Russian crude oil, urging New Delhi to halt the practice.
In an opinion piece for the Financial Times published on August 18, Navarro warned that India was “cozying up to both Russia and China.” He argued that if India wanted to be treated as a true strategic partner of the United States, “it needs to start acting like one.”
The criticism comes as US President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods earlier this month, citing New Delhi’s oil trade with Moscow. The measure brings total tariffs on Indian imports to 50%.
“India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs,” Navarro wrote, adding that India’s close ties with Russia and China posed risks for transferring advanced US military technology.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters on August 18, Indian Oil Corp., the country’s top refiner, confirmed it would keep buying Russian oil when economically viable. Chief financial officer Anuj Jain said Russian crude accounted for about 24% of the company’s processing in the June quarter, up from an average of 22% in the 2024/25 fiscal year.
Purchases for the September quarter are ongoing, with discounts averaging $1.50 per barrel compared to the Dubai benchmark.
Earlier, it was reported that India—the world’s largest importer of seaborne Russian crude—is rushing to secure alternative oil supplies ahead of Friday’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The move follows Trump’s demand that New Delhi stop buying discounted Russian oil, which he said was fueling “the war machine,” and his decision to double tariffs on Indian goods in retaliation.
