India’s purchase of Russian crude funding war in Ukraine, has to stop: U.S. trade adviser Navarro

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India’s purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and had to stop, adding that New Delhi was “now cozying up to both Russia and China.”

“If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to start acting like one,” Mr. Navarro wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times.

EXPLAINED | Will India cave in to U.S. pressure on Russian oil?

The Ministry of External Affairs has previously said India is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump levied an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods earlier this month, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, taking total tariffs on imports from India 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,” Mr. Navarro said.

DATA | Donald Trump’s criticism of India for its oil and arms trade with Russia is factual but illogical

The adviser also said it was risky to transfer cutting-edge U.S. military capabilities to India as New Delhi was “now cozying up to both Russia and China.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of the month while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting India from Monday (August 18, 2025) for talks on the disputed border between the two countries.

Also Read | India ‘fully engaged’ with U.S. on trade deal, says Commerce Secretary

A planned visit by U.S. trade negotiators to New Delhi from August 25-29 has been called off, a source said over the weekend, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from August 27.