Jaishankar Meets Putin in Moscow, Reaffirms Strong India-Russia Partnership
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Aug 22, 2025
Peter Navarro, a top trade advisor to former President Donald Trump, has publicly criticized India for buying large amounts of Russian oil.
Speaking outside the White House, Navarro accused India of running a “profiteering scheme” by purchasing discounted Russian crude, which he claims supports Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
He also called India the “Maharaja of tariffs,” pointing to its high trade barriers and significant trade surplus with the United States, which he says hurts American workers and businesses.
Navarro’s comments come as the Trump administration plans to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods starting August 27. This includes a 25% penalty specifically tied to India’s Russian oil imports, on top of an earlier 25% tariff meant to address what Navarro called unfair trade practices.
- Trump Aide Navarro Slams India Over Russian Oil as U.S. Plans 50% Tariff
- India Rejects U.S. Tariffs, Defends Russian Oil Imports Amid Trade Tensions
- Navarro Criticizes India’s Trade Practices, New U.S. Tariffs Set for August 27
“We believe that relations between India and Russia have been among the steadiest of the major relationships in the world after the Second World War.” Navarro said, connecting the issue to increased U.S. aid for Ukraine.
India has strongly pushed back, with government officials calling the tariffs “unfair and unjustified.” They argue that buying Russian oil at lower prices has helped keep global energy costs stable. According to Kpler, a data analytics firm, Russia now supplies 41% of India’s crude oil, up from just 1% before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with imports peaking at 2.15 million barrels per day in 2023. Indian officials also noted that other countries, including the U.S. and European nations, continue to buy Russian goods, questioning why India is being singled out.
Also Read: South Korea's Lee Meets Trump to Tackle Troop Costs and China Strategy
Some U.S. experts, like economist Jeffrey Sachs and analyst Fareed Zakaria, have warned that these tariffs could damage U.S.-India relations and push India closer to Russia and China. Russia, offering India a 5% discount on oil, has vowed to maintain its energy partnership with New Delhi despite U.S. pressure. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing to lead a cabinet meeting to evaluate how these tariffs might affect India’s $87 billion export market to the U.S.
