India ‘laundromat’ for Kremlin, doesn’t need Russian oil: Trump adviser Peter Navarro

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has criticised India’s rising imports of Russian oil, describing the country as a ‘laundromat for the Kremlin’. He also accused New Delhi of imposing what he called ‘maharaja tariffs’.

Navarro linked India’s energy purchases to a wider cycle of economic and geopolitical fallout, defending US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose steep duties on Indian goods. Trump had announced 50 per cent tariffs — 25 per cent from August 7 for higher duties, plus an additional 25 per cent tied to India’s Russian oil imports.

He further alleged that India was using trade imbalances with the US to help fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine, adding, “The road to peace runs through New Delhi.”

“Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India bought virtually no Russian oil. Now, that percentage has gone up to 30-35 per cent. The argument that they need Russian oil is nonsense,” Navarro said. According to the government data, India imported around 1.8 million barrels per day of Russian crude oil in 2024.

The White House Trade Adviser accused Indian refiners of buying discounted Russian crude, processing it and selling refined products at premium prices to Europe, Africa and Asia, in collaboration with Italian refiners. “They make a bunch of money, but then the Russians use that money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians,” Navarro claimed, arguing that this dynamic forces US taxpayers to provide additional military aid to Ukraine.

Navarro also slammed India’s trade practices, accusing the country of imposing “maharaja tariffs” and non-tariff barriers that contribute to a massive US trade deficit. “They cheat us on trade,” he said, noting that India uses profits from US trade to purchase Russian oil, exacerbating the cycle. “That hurts US workers and businesses,” he added.

The trade adviser framed India’s actions as a barrier to global stability, stating, “In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi.”

“They (India) don’t need the (Russian) oil. It’s a refining profiteering scheme. It’s a laundromat for the Kremlin. I love India. Modi is a great leader, but please, India, look at your role in the global economy. What you’re doing right now is not creating peace. It’s perpetuating the war,” he said.

The additional 25 per cent tariffs, set to take effect on August 27, aim to pressure India to curb its Russian oil imports and address trade imbalances. However, the Ministry of External Affairs termed the tariffs “unjustified”. New Delhi has defended its oil purchases as necessary to meet domestic energy demands, citing discounted Russian crude as a market-driven choice following Western sanctions.