Navarro: India is nothing but a laundromat for Kremlin

Navarro: India is nothing but a laundromat for Kremlin

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has reignited criticism of India, accusing the country of acting as an "oil money laundromat for the Kremlin." His remarks come as the U.S. President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on Indian goods took effect, imposing a $48.2 billion hit on exporters [1]. Navarro's claims are part of a broader narrative that India is financing Russia's war in Ukraine by purchasing discounted Russian oil.

Navarro argues that India's refiners are buying cheap Russian oil, processing it, and exporting fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia under the guise of neutrality. He asserts that this practice allows Russia to pocket hard currency to fund its war on Ukraine [1]. India's oil imports from Russia have surged from less than 1% to over 30% of its daily consumption, according to Navarro [1].

The U.S. trade adviser also criticized India for buying Russian weapons while demanding that U.S. firms transfer sensitive military technology and build plants in India. He described this as "strategic freeloading" [1]. The 50% tariffs, the highest reciprocal levies in Asia, are intended to pressure India to halt its purchases of Russian energy [2].

India has defended its actions, stating that it is necessary to keep energy prices low and stabilize its domestic market. The country has been a key player in ensuring that Russian crude oil continues to flow globally, preventing a price spike that could have adversely affected global consumers [3]. India's role has been lauded by U.S. officials, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Ambassador Eric Garcetti, and Geoffrey Pyatt [3].

Navarro's comments echo a broader U.S. strategy to pressure India to align with U.S. interests in the Ukraine conflict. The U.S. has taken a softer stance with China, despite the latter being a major buyer of Russian crude, indicating a more targeted approach to India [2].

The 50% tariffs are expected to hit more than 55% of goods shipped to the U.S., India's biggest export market. While key products like electronics and pharmaceuticals are exempt, scores of labor-intensive industries like textiles and jewelry will be affected [2]. India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has assured exporters of support and pledged to expand the country's domestic and global outreach to mitigate the impact of the tariffs [1].

References:
[1] https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/us-news/under-pretense-of-neutrality-navarro-takes-fresh-swipe-at-india-hails-trump-for-confronting-issue/3961137/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-27/navarro-calls-ukraine-modi-s-war-hits-india-over-russian-oil
[3] https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2025/Aug/30/navarros-tweets-how-india-rebuts-with-facts-and-figures