September 1, 2025 – Washington, D.C.

US President Donald Trump’s former trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has sharply criticized India for allegedly profiting from the Russia-Ukraine conflict by importing Russian oil at discounted rates and exporting refined products to global markets. In an interview with Fox News, Navarro referred to India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin”, claiming that certain Indian elites were profiteering at the expense of ordinary citizens.

Navarro argued that India’s oil purchases from Russia have increased dramatically since Moscow’s full-scale assault on Ukraine, despite minimal trade before the conflict. “India is nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin…You got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop,” he said, alleging that Indian refiners were benefiting from discounted crude and selling it at a premium abroad. He also linked these transactions to continued support for the Russian war effort, saying, “It kills Ukrainians…And what do we have to do as taxpayers? We’ve got to send them more money.”

In addition to targeting India’s oil trade, Navarro defended the Trump administration’s punitive tariffs on Indian exports, framing them as a necessary response to what he described as New Delhi’s destabilizing ties with both Moscow and Beijing. He criticized India’s engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, questioning why the leader of the world’s largest democracy was building such alliances. “Modi’s a great leader… I don’t understand why he’s getting to bed with Putin and Xi Jinping,” Navarro said.

The comments coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, marking his first trip to Beijing in seven years. During the summit, Modi met with President Xi Jinping to discuss regional cooperation and bilateral ties. Modi is also expected to meet President Putin during his visit, highlighting India’s continued diplomatic balancing act between major global powers.

Navarro’s remarks come amid rising protectionist measures under the Trump administration and ongoing tensions over trade relations with both India and China. While the former US trade czar’s comments are highly critical, Indian officials have not publicly responded to the allegations, and trade experts note that India maintains significant energy requirements that necessitate diverse sourcing.

India’s growing energy ties with Russia have drawn scrutiny from multiple quarters internationally, particularly as Western nations attempt to enforce sanctions aimed at curtailing Moscow’s war capabilities. Navarro’s framing of Indian refiners as profiteers has sparked debate over the ethical and economic dimensions of global energy trade, especially during times of geopolitical conflict.

While Navarro’s statements are politically charged, they underscore broader US concerns about global energy security, trade practices, and the role of emerging economies in international crises. India’s careful diplomacy during the SCO summit and its engagements with Russia and China illustrate the complexity of maintaining strategic autonomy while balancing international expectations.

As global attention focuses on energy markets, trade relations, and regional security, Navarro’s criticism adds another layer of scrutiny to India’s foreign and economic policy decisions, particularly in relation to Moscow’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine.