White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has urged India to halt its imports of Russian crude oil, warning that the purchases are helping Moscow sustain its war in Ukraine.
Writing in an opinion piece for the Financial Times, Navarro said India’s growing energy ties with Russia undermine its claim of being a strategic partner of the United States.
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“If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to start acting like one,” he wrote, adding that New Delhi was “cozying up to both Russia and China.”
The sharp remarks come as Washington escalates pressure on allies and partners to limit Russia’s access to global markets.
Tariffs deepen strain in Us-India relations
Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s continued oil trade with Moscow. The move raises overall tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, intensifying trade tensions between the two countries.
Navarro also cautioned that India’s close ties with both Russia and China made it risky for Washington to transfer advanced military technology to New Delhi.
India has consistently defended its Russian oil purchases, saying it is being unfairly singled out. Officials point out that Western nations continue to trade with Russia in other sectors even as they press India to reduce its imports.
Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country’s largest refiner, confirmed it would keep buying Russian crude depending on market economics. “Russian oil processing in the June quarter was about 24% compared to an average 22% in 2024/25,” IOC’s finance head Anuj Jain said. He added that current discounts on Russian crude were around $1.50 per barrel below the Dubai benchmark.
Shifting geopolitical landscape
At the same time, India is cautiously strengthening ties with China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins talks in New Delhi on border issues.
Meanwhile, a planned visit by U.S. trade negotiators to India later in August has been canceled, delaying discussions on a potential trade agreement and leaving hopes of tariff relief uncertain.
