US Adviser Criticizes India’s Russian Oil Trade Amid Tariff Hikes

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has sharply criticized India for its increased imports of discounted Russian crude oil, accusing the country of running a "profiteering scheme" by refining and selling Russian oil products at premium prices globally. Navarro highlighted that prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, India purchased virtually no Russian oil, but this has surged to 35%, and he dismissed India's justification of energy needs as "nonsense." He also condemned India's high tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. goods, calling India a "Maharaj in tariffs" and linking these trade practices to harm for American workers and businesses. Navarro further accused India of using U.S. trade revenues to buy Russian oil, indirectly financing Russian military actions against Ukraine, which he described as "insane." These criticisms coincided with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's defense of India's energy strategy, noting that the U.S. had requested India to help stabilize global energy markets by purchasing Russian oil. Relations between the U.S. and India have deteriorated amid rising tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, including a doubling of tariffs on Indian goods and an additional 25% levy related to India's Russian oil imports, as well as concerns over India's growing closeness with China.