Washington: In one of the most pointed criticisms of India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro has accused New Delhi of "perpetuating" the war in Ukraine by continuing to import discounted Russian crude.

Navarro alleged that India is acting as a "laundromat for the Kremlin," stating that the purchases are helping Russia fund its war efforts in Ukraine, while India profits from refining and exporting the oil.

"India doesn't appear to want to recognise its role in the bloodshed... It's cosying up to Xi Jinping (Chinese President). They (India) don't need the (Russian) oil. It's a refining profiteering scheme. It's a laundromat for the Kremlin. I love India. Modi is a great leader, but please, India, look at your role in the global economy. What you're doing right now is not creating peace. It's perpetuating the war," Navarro said.

What did former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley say?

Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations, in her opinion piece in Newsweek, shared the strategic importance of maintaining strong ties with India. She warned that undermining the 25-year trajectory of US-India relations would be a "strategic disaster" and urged Donald Trump to engage directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "reverse the downward spiral" in bilateral relations.

Haley argued that India is the only Asian power capable of counterbalancing China’s influence, making its partnership with the United States vital to regional and global stability.

Economist Jeffrey Sachs calls tariffs on India ‘very self-destructive of US’

Leading economist Jeffrey Sachs has criticised the US administration's recent decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian goods, describing the move as "bizarre" and "self-destructive". Speaking to the media, Sachs said the tariffs could reverse years of progress in US-India relations, calling the policy "not a strategy, but sabotage" and "the stupidest tactical move in US foreign policy", which has inadvertently strengthened cooperation among BRICS nations.

How much tariffs have been imposed on India by Trump?

In July, Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on Indian exports, followed shortly by an additional 25%, bringing the total to 50%. The escalation, Trump said, was in response to India's continued import of Russian oil.

Navarro defended the tariffs by claiming that India does not rely on Russian oil. He pointed out that prior to the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, India sourced less than 1% of its oil from Russia. That figure has since risen to approximately 35–40%.

"Prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India bought virtually no Russian oil... The argument now, when this percentage has gone up to 30-35%, that somehow they need Russian oil, is nonsense... Russian refiners have gotten in bed with Italian refiners in a game in which they get cheap Russian crude at a discount. Then they make refined products, which they sell at premium prices into Europe, Africa and Asia," Navarro explained.

He also added that the 50% US tariff on Indian goods would take effect on August 27. The breakdown includes a base 10% duty, a 25% reciprocal tariff, and a further 25% penalty tied to India’s continued energy ties with Russia.

He also criticised India’s trade policies, describing them as "higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs, higher non-tariff barriers," which he claims contribute to a "massive" US trade deficit.

"In India, 25% tariffs were put in place because they cheat us on trade. Then 25% because of the Russian oil... They have higher tariffs, Maharaja tariffs... We run a massive trade deficit with them. So that hurts American workers and businesses. Then they use the money that they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which then is processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there, but then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians. So American taxpayers have to provide more aid, military style, to the Ukrainians. That's insane, and President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully. In many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi," Navarro said.

Navarro’s comments come as India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, pushed back against criticism from US officials for its energy ties with Russia. He stated that the US had previously encouraged India to purchase Russian oil to help stabilise global markets.

"We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil; that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South. We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you (the media) had referred to..." Jaishankar said in response to a question.

Silence or compromise only emboldens the bully, says China

Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, also criticised the US decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian goods. He warned that “silence or compromise only emboldens the bully” and expressed China’s willingness to work alongside India in defending the multilateral trading system anchored by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Xu said the US, despite having benefited from global free trade, is now using tariffs as leverage in international relations, disrupting the global trade system and promoting "power politics and the law of the jungle."

He called for stronger cooperation between China and India to help developing countries address economic challenges and uphold international fairness and justice.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated its commitment to defending national interests in the face of external pressure.

In an official statement, the MEA said: "The United States has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia. We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India."

"It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," the statement added.

ANI