Peter Navarro, a key figure in Donald Trump’s trade policy, strongly defended the US president’s steep tariffs on India on Thursday. Speaking to reporters, he accused New Delhi of using US dollars to buy oil from Russia, which he claimed “uses those dollars from India to finance weapons to kill Ukrainians.”

Navarro argued that this puts an unfair burden on US taxpayers. “American taxpayers are being asked to pay for weapons to defend Ukraine from Russian weapons bought with US dollars from India,” he said. “This has to stop. This math doesn’t work. The president understands the connection between economic and national security. So that was the crux of the matter.”

Reporters Question Double Standards

Journalists quickly challenged Navarro, asking why he did not criticise China, which actually buys more oil from Russia than India does. In response, Navarro admitted that the US is in a weaker position against Beijing. “We don’t want to hurt ourselves” with higher tariffs, he said. He added, “As the boss says, we’ll see what happens. Remember, we already have over 50 per cent tariffs on China, okay?”

Navarro’s Controversial Background

Navarro is no stranger to controversy. He is a convicted felon and once fabricated quotes for his book, attributing them to a fictional expert named “Ron Vara,” an anagram of his own name. In Washington, he is known as Trump’s “trade whisperer,” often mirroring the president’s belief in tariffs.

During his remarks, Navarro accused India of benefiting from “unfair trade terms,” saying, “The US sends a lot of dollars to India to buy their goods… India then uses US dollars to buy Russian oil.”

India Pushes Back

An Indian trade analyst, speaking anonymously to The Times of India, dismissed Navarro’s claims. The analyst said New Delhi earns dollars through “legitimate exports, not charity.” He also pointed out that India uses those dollars to buy American goods, including weapons. The US, he noted, is India’s largest trading partner, while Russia ranks fourth. “Not to forget India buys Russian oil with a mix of currencies, including rupees,” the analyst added.

Tariff Dispute Deepens

India quickly responded after Trump announced nearly 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. New Delhi rejected Trump’s statement that India imposes some of the world’s highest tariffs on US products, noting that he made similar accusations against Canada. Indian officials also highlighted recent tariff cuts on American exports. These arguments have made it harder for the Trump administration to justify its latest trade measures against India.