August 29, 2025

White House adviser Peter Navarro has dropped a fiery bombshell on India’s oil trade with Russia, calling it a secret funnel pumping money directly into "Vladimir Putin's war chest." Just as the Trump administration’s harsh 50% tariffs on Indian imports started, Navarro detailed his spicy claims on X, stirring a storm. According to Navarro, these new tariffs aren’t just about fair trade—they aim to cut off the money India is allegedly sending to back Putin’s war in Ukraine. He explained the "oil mathematics" behind this, saying, "American consumers buy Indian goods while India keeps out US exports through high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. India uses our dollars to buy discounted Russian crude." He accused Indian refiners of partnering with "silent Russian partners" to refine and sell discounted Russian oil for huge profits worldwide. This business, he says, helps Russia rake in hard cash that fuels its war machine. Navarro painted a picture of booming Russian oil imports since the Ukraine invasion—jumping from under 1% of India’s oil before the war. But he claimed this isn’t about India’s needs, rather “Indian profiteers” making money, paying no mind to the “blood and devastation in Ukraine.” Calling India a "massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin," Navarro said India refines cheap Russian oil and exports it globally—skirting sanctions by claiming neutrality. He added, "India now exports over 1 million barrels a day in refined petroleum—more than half the Russian crude it imports. The proceeds flow to India’s politically connected energy titans—and directly into Putin's war chest." He then linked these dealings to the US trade deficit, stating, "While the United States pays to arm Ukraine, India bankrolls Russia even as it slaps some of the world's highest tariffs on US goods, which in turn punishes American exporters. We run a $50-billion trade deficit with India—and they're using our dollars to buy Russian oil. They make a killing and Ukrainians die." Navarro didn’t stop there—he accused India of "strategic freeloading" by continuing to buy Russian weapons but demanding sensitive military tech from the US. Wrapping up, Navarro criticized the Biden administration for ignoring this “madness,” and said President Trump took bold action with tariffs "25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security." He fired a strong message: "If India, the world's largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the US, it needs to act like one. The road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi."

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Tags: Peter navarro, India-russia oil trade, Us tariffs, Russian crude, Ukraine conflict, Donald trump,