India’s purchase of Russian oil has to stop, says US trade adviser

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro accuses India of funding Russia's war in Ukraine through its purchases of Russian crude oil, stating these imports must stop. He claims India acts as a "global clearinghouse" for embargoed Russian oil, converting it into exports while giving Moscow needed dollars, calling India's dependence "opportunistic and deeply corrosive" to global efforts to isolate Russia.

India, the second-largest buyer of Russian oil after China, sources over 30% of its fuel from Moscow. This follows US President Trump imposing 50% tariffs on Indian goods earlier this month, straining relations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded defiantly on Independence Day, pledging to protect farmers' interests against US tariffs and vowing never to compromise on their welfare.

Despite being a key US defense partner, India maintains strong ties with Russia—its primary arms supplier including S-400 systems—and Modi met Putin during the Ukraine war. While US-India relations reached strategic levels with $128bn annual trade, Trump seeks to reduce the $45bn deficit. Navarro warns that India's deepening ties with Russia and China make transferring advanced US military technology risky, asserting India must "act like a strategic partner" if it wants that status.

Navarro is the second senior Trump official to condemn India's oil purchases after Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller called them "not acceptable" in early August, stating India shouldn't finance Russia's war. This criticism coincides with India preparing for Modi's China visit and hosting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi for border talks.