White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has sharply criticised India for buying Russian oil and defence equipment. He warned that Washington would “hit India where it hurts” unless New Delhi changes course.

Oil Purchases Under Fire

In an opinion article for the Financial Times, Navarro called India’s oil trade with Russia “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to global efforts aimed at isolating Moscow. He accused India of using trade dollars earned from America to fund Russian energy imports.

“As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India’s financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine’s defence. Meanwhile, India keeps slamming the door on American exports through high tariffs and trade barriers. More than 300,000 soldiers and civilians have been killed, while Nato’s eastern flank grows more exposed and the west foots the bill for India’s oil laundering,” Navarro wrote.

Trade Talks Stalled

India and the US have been negotiating a Free Trade Agreement, but talks remain deadlocked. New Delhi has resisted pressure to open its agriculture, dairy and small-scale industries to unrestricted American imports.

Frustration grew after Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian exports to the US in late July. He later announced another 25% levy to penalise India for its oil purchases from Russia. The new duties will take effect next week.

India’s foreign ministry described the measures as “unreasonable” and “extremely unfortunate.”

Refiners Accused of Profiteering

Navarro also lashed out at Indian refiners. He accused them of exploiting discounted Russian oil by reselling refined fuel to Europe, Africa, and Asia, rather than using it for domestic consumption.

He criticised the Biden administration for ignoring what he called “strategic and geopolitical madness,” adding: “The Trump administration is confronting it.”

“This two-pronged policy will hit India where it hurts — its access to US markets — even as it seeks to cut off the financial lifeline it has extended to Russia’s war effort,” he said. “If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.”

Pressure From Trump Officials

Navarro’s warning follows similar remarks by senior Trump officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller. All three have criticised New Delhi’s close relationship with Moscow.

He also questioned US defence technology transfers to India. In his view, setting up factories in India and transferring advanced technologies do little to improve America’s trade balance. He went further, accusing India of “cozying up to both Russia and China.”

Pushback From Former Diplomats

However, some former US officials disagree with Navarro’s arguments. Evan Feigenbaum, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia under George W. Bush, said the criticism reflected poor policy choices.

“The larger issue is that the secretary of State and other principals authorised this piece. So those who know better and are supposed to balance American interests either agree with it, don’t agree with it but authorised it anyway, or just don’t care,” Feigenbaum said.

He argued that Washington had shifted from a trade war with China to a trade clash with India.

“This completes a strange narrative arc from Washington and has finally shifted US policy from a trade war and strategic friction with China to a trade war and strategic friction with India instead. I’ll say it flatly: that is just strategic malpractice,” Feigenbaum added.