Peter Navarro blasts India for supporting Russia's war with oil imports
- Peter Navarro, a White House trade adviser, criticized India’s purchases of Russian oil.
- Navarro argued that these imports are supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine.
- He suggested that India must act like a strategic partner to the U.S. if it wishes to maintain that status.
In August 2021, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro published an op-ed in the Financial Times highlighting the concerns regarding India’s purchases of oil from Russia. He emphasized that these imports are financially aiding Russia amidst its war against Ukraine, which has geopolitical repercussions. Navarro argued that if India desires to be perceived as a strategic partner of the United States, it must align its actions accordingly. He criticized the current Biden administration for not confronting the issue decisively, in contrast to the Trump administration's tougher stance, which included imposing tariffs on imports from India in response to its oil purchases. The op-ed followed the announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian imports linked to the country's engagement with Russia, which was set to take effect shortly after the publication date. This measure highlighted the U.S. administration's concerns about Russian oil, labelled as an