White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has once again attacked India while defending US President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian goods. He described New Delhi as "nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin" and accused “Brahmins” of “profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.”

Criticism of Oil Purchases

Navarro made these remarks while questioning why India, the world’s largest democracy, continues business with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He focused on India’s growing oil trade with Moscow since the Ukraine war began.

In recent months, Navarro has frequently targeted New Delhi for buying Russian crude. He has used this argument to justify Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing trade links with Russia.

Trump Tariffs on India and China

Speaking to Fox News, Navarro was asked whether Trump’s tariffs on India and China were “enough to choke Vladimir Putin.” He explained that Indian imports now face a 50 per cent duty, while Chinese goods also carry a similar levy. He admitted, however, that Washington must weigh how high tariffs can go without harming the US economy.

Despite this, Navarro returned to India’s oil purchases. He claimed that before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, New Delhi barely imported Russian crude.

“What happened? Well, the Russian refiners went in and got into bed with big oil India. Putin gives (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi a discount on the crude. They refine it and they ship it to Europe, Africa and Asia at a big premium and they make a ton of money,” Navarro said.

India as a "Laundromat"

Navarro then asked, “Now, what's wrong with that picture?” He answered, “Well, it fuels the Russian war machine. India is nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin. It kills Ukrainians. And what we have to do as taxpayers is we have to send them more money so Ukraine can defend itself.”

“Maharaja of Tariffs”

Alongside the oil issue, Navarro also slammed India’s trade policies. He labelled New Delhi the “Maharaja of tariffs” and argued that it keeps its markets closed to US exports.

“They export us a bunch of stuff. They won't let US sell to them. So, who gets hurt? Workers in America, taxpayers in America, Ukrainians in cities get killed by Russian drones,” he said.

While calling Prime Minister Modi a “great leader,” Navarro expressed confusion over India’s ties with Russia and China. “I don't understand why he's getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping when he's the biggest democracy in the world,” he remarked.

He then urged Indians to question the situation, saying: “I would just say the Indian people, please, understand what's going on here. The Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop.”

Previous Attacks on India

This is not Navarro’s first outburst. Earlier, he had branded India an “oil money laundromat” and even referred to the Ukraine war as “Modi’s war,” escalating tensions between Washington and New Delhi beyond trade disputes.

India’s Response

India has firmly defended its energy decisions. Officials maintain that purchases are based on “what is on offer in markets and prevailing global situation.” They argue that oil sourcing is tied to “national security imperatives and strategic assessments.”

The Ministry of External Affairs had also pushed back at Washington’s criticism. It pointed out that when New Delhi began importing Russian crude after the 2022 invasion, the US itself had “actively encouraged such imports by India for strengthening global energy markets stability.”

Moreover, India has highlighted that both the US and the European Union continue trade relations with Moscow. European countries still import Russian goods, and Washington buys Russian supplies for its civil nuclear industry.