By Alex Raufoglu 

WASHINGTON, DC – In a rare and striking public appearance, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro delivered a scathing critique of India’s role in the global energy market, directly linking the country’s purchases of Russian oil to Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Navarro framed India’s actions as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and a “profiteering scheme” that is undermining international sanctions and costing American taxpayers.

The impromptu press briefing took place just days before a scheduled doubling of tariffs on Indian goods, a move Navarro defended as a necessary response to India’s “cheating” on trade and its financial support for Moscow.

Russian Oil ‘Profiteering’ Scheme

Navarro, a staunch economic nationalist and key figure in the Trump administration’s trade policy, challenged the notion that India is a victim of circumstance in its energy needs. 

He pointed out that prior to Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, India imported less than 1% of its oil from Russia. 

“So, the argument, somehow, now is [that] the percentage has gone up to like 30 or 35%… somehow they need Russian oil to cool their homes, or cook, or drive their cars, is nonsense,” he said.

He described a two-part process in which Indian refiners buy discounted Russian crude, refine it, and then sell the finished products at a premium to markets in Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Although the Alaska Summit was more show than substance, a combination of talks and Western pressure may yet force the Kremlin to agree an end to its war of aggression against Ukraine.

“It’s strictly profiteering,” Navarro said, calling it a “laundromat for the Kremlin.”

Tariffs as a tool for peace

Navarro connected India’s energy trade directly to the US and its allies. He argued that the money India earns from its trade with the US is then used to buy Russian oil, which in turn helps fund Russia’s military. This, he said, forces the American public to “provide more aid, military style, to the Ukrainians.”

 “That’s insane, and President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully,” Navarro said. “You guys need to write about that. That’s what’s going on there. And in many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi.”

When asked if the administration would proceed with the planned doubling of tariffs to 50% on Aug. 27, Navarro said that India “doesn’t appear to want to recognize its role in the bloodshed.” 

He accused India of “cozying up to Xi Jinping” and stated that its current actions are “perpetuating the war” rather than creating peace.

China’s tariffs and Russia’s oil

Asked why China, which is also a major importer of Russian oil, has not faced similar tariff threats, Navarro’s response was brief: “We have 50% tariffs on China already.” 

While the US has imposed significant tariffs on China, the administration has not publicly tied them to the country’s Russian oil purchases in the same way it has with India.The exchange concluded with Navarro reiterating his message directly to India’s government, praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great leader” but urging the country to re-evaluate its role in the global economy.

Alex Raufoglu is Kyiv Post’s Chief  Correspondent in Washington DC. He covers the US State Department, regularly traveling with US Secretary of State. Raufoglu has worked extensively in the South Caucasus and Black Sea regions for several international broadcast outlets, such as VoA, BBC, RFE/RL, etc. He holds an MA in Interactive Journalism from American University, Washington DC.