US Trade Adviser Criticizes India’s Ties with Russia and China

Washington: US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, intensified his criticism of India’s growing engagement with Russia, sharply condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. He described the encounter as a “shame”, accusing New Delhi of alifning itself with the wrong side of global affairs.

“It is a shame to see [PM] Modi getting in bed with Xi Jinping and Putin. I'm not sure what he's thinking. We hope he comes around to seeing that he needs to be with us and not Russia," Navarro asserted

The remarks followed Modi’s recent visit to China for the SCO gathering, where he interacted directly with both Putin and Xi. This trilateral meeting has amplified concerns in Washington about India’s strategic positioning.

Tariff Disputes and Oil Purchases

Ever since Trump announced new tariff measures against India, Navarro has persistently targeted New Delhi’s trade choices. He alleged that India’s ongoing crude imports from Moscow directly aid Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, a conflict that continues despite Trump’s earlier claim he could end it “within hours”.

Previously, Navarro had dubbed India the “Maharaja of tariiffs”, arguing that New Delhi maintains disproportionately high trade barriers. “There’s a two-prong problem with India…Twenty-five per cent is reciprocal , because of unfair trade, and the other 25 per cent is because India is buying oil from Russia,” he said, accusing India of being in complete denial.

Caste and Economic Fault Lines

Escalating further, Navarro controversially accused “Brahmins of profiteering at the expense of ordinary Indians” through discounted Russian oil deals. He also characterized India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” claiming Indian refiners purchase cheap Russian cude, refine it, and then re-export it at premium rates. “It kills Ukrainians…And what do we have to do as taxpayers? We’ve got to send them more money,” he added, reinforcing his vitriolic stance.

India’s Response

India has firmly defended its decision to purchase Russian crude, insisting it is vital for maintaining affordable energy and stabilizing domestic markets. New Delhi dismissed Washington’s objection as “unjustified” and criticized the imposition of “secondary tariffs” that disproportionately target India, even though other major economies such as China also import Russian oil.

Historically, India relied heavily on Middle Eastern suppliers. However, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the G7-imposed $60-per-barrel cap, India capitalized on discounted cargoes. Even US officials admitted that this mechanism allowed Russian oil to keep flowing globally while giving buyers like India significant leverage.