White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has sharply criticized India’s growing imports of Russian crude oil, calling the country a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and accusing it of profiting from discounted Russian energy while exacerbating the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Navarro emphasized that, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India’s reliance on Russian oil was negligible—less than 1% of its imports. However, the figure now stands at nearly 35-40%, a trend he dismissed as strategic profiteering rather than necessity.
Navarro’s comments highlighted broader trade tensions, citing high tariffs—dubbed “Maharaja tariffs”—and non-tariff barriers imposed by India, which he claimed have led to a “massive” U.S. trade deficit, hurting American workers and businesses. He announced that the U.S. will impose a combined 50% tariff on Indian goods, effective August 27, 2025. This hike consists of a baseline 10% duty, a 25% reciprocal tariff, and an additional 25% penalty related to India’s Russian oil imports.
Navarro further alleged that the revenue India receives from its exports to the U.S. is used to pay for Russian oil, enabling Moscow to channel funds into its war effort in Ukraine. “They use the money that they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which then is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there, but then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians,” Navarro told reporters.
Despite the critical tone, Navarro acknowledged India’s potential influence in resolving the Ukraine-Russia crisis, stating, “The road to peace runs through New Delhi,” and described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great leader”. Nevertheless, he accused India of refusing to recognize its role in the conflict and suggested the country is also aligning more closely with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the expense of global stability.
Navarro’s remarks come amid widespread debate in Washington over balancing tough trade measures and maintaining strong strategic ties with India, particularly as counterweight to China’s economic and military ambitions. Other commentators, such as former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, have warned that damaging the U.S.-India partnership could have disastrous geopolitical consequences.
With tariffs set to rise and diplomatic friction over Russian oil mounting, U.S.-India relations appear poised for a period of heightened tension and scrutiny as the global fallout from the Ukraine war persists