US criticizes India for purchasing Russian oil

India’s sharp increase in purchases of Russian oil after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “opportunistic and destructive,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said.

 This was reported in a column for the Financial Times. 

Navarro, who now plays a key role in shaping Donald Trump’s trade policy, said that Indian companies are effectively financing Russia’s war machine.

He also accused Delhi of using dollars from exports of goods to the United States to buy cheap Russian crude.

“India has become a global clearinghouse for Russian oil,” Navarro wrote.

According to Bloomberg, citing Kpler data, in 2021 Russia’s share of India’s imports was insignificant, but today it is about 37%.

In turn, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that it buys oil from the cheapest supplier and considers the possible introduction of sanctions or punitive tariffs “unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump is threatening to double tariffs on Indian exports to the US to 50%, the highest among Washington’s trading partners. This, according to Navarro, should both limit financial flows to Moscow and put pressure on New Delhi.

Earlier it was reported that India will order 26 locally-made ships as part of a $2.3 billion deal.