Fact-checked on X, Peter Navarro renews India tirade over Russian oil

White House adviser Peter Navarro faced fact-checks on X for his criticism of India’s Russian oil imports, with users clarifying that New Delhi’s decisions are driven by energy security concerns, not just cheap prices.

In a fresh post on X, Navarro said, “India buys Russia oil solely to profiteer. It didn’t buy any before Russia invaded Ukraine. Indian government spin machine moving high tilt. Stop killing Ukrainians. Stop taking American jobs.”

His post came in response to a community note on X that challenged his earlier claim that India’s oil purchases fuel Russia’s “war machine”. The note described Navarro’s accusations as “hypocritical”, pointing out that India’s legal oil purchases prioritise energy security and comply with international law. It also noted that the US continued to import Russian goods, such as uranium, highlighting a perceived double standard.

X’s community notes feature allows users to collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts. Notes are displayed publicly if they are deemed helpful by a diverse range of contributors.

India has dismissed Navarro’s criticisms as “inaccurate and misleading”. Last week, he referred to India as an “oil money laundromat for the Kremlin” and criticised its “strategic freeloading” for purchasing Russian weapons while seeking US defence technology and manufacturing investments.

India-US relations have been strained since President Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent additional duty linked to India’s Russian oil purchases. India called the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”.

Russia has become India’s top oil supplier, accounting for nearly 35 per cent of its total crude imports in 2024, a significant increase from just 0.2 per cent before the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in 2022. According to government data, India imported approximately 1.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in 2024.