US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has strongly criticised India for its growing trade ties with Russia. His comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. Navarro called the meeting a “shame” and said that India should support the US instead of siding with Russia and China.

He argued that India’s purchase of cheap Russian oil is helping Moscow fund its war in Ukraine. According to him, while Russia profits from this trade, ordinary Ukrainians are suffering, and US taxpayers are forced to pay more to support Ukraine in the conflict. Navarro also claimed that India’s actions are weakening global stability.

In the past, Navarro had described India as the “Maharaja of tariffs,” saying the country charges very high trade tariffs compared to other large economies. He also accused Indian refiners of acting like a “laundromat for the Kremlin” by buying Russian crude oil at discounted prices, refining it, and then exporting it at higher rates. He even made a controversial claim that “Brahmins are profiteering” from this trade, which sparked criticism.

Defending its position, India has said that its oil trade with Russia is necessary to keep energy prices low for Indian citizens and to maintain stability in its market. New Delhi has also rejected US criticism, calling Washington’s tariffs on Indian goods “unjustified.” Before 2022, India was not a major buyer of Russian oil and relied more on the Middle East. But after Russia invaded Ukraine and Weste

The discounted oil helped India secure affordable energy supplies while also fitting within the global supply framework acknowledged by the US and its allies. This growing disagreement highlights rising tensions between Washington and New Delhi over trade and foreign policy, even as both countries call each other strategic partners.