Peter Navarro, a former trade advisor to US President Donald Trump, has voiced strong criticism of India’s crude oil purchases from Russia, labeling the situation as detrimental to Ukraine. Navarro claims that India’s financial dealings with Russia are, in effect, supporting Russia’s military actions. He specifically mentioned that India utilizes US dollars to purchase discounted Russian crude oil, indirectly contributing to the financing of the ongoing conflict. Navarro contends that the profits generated from these transactions, coupled with India’s continued acquisition of Russian weapons, constitute a form of strategic exploitation. He pointed out that India imports significant amounts of Russian oil, refines it, and subsequently exports refined petroleum products, potentially bypassing sanctions while generating revenue that flows into Russia’s war efforts. He also highlighted the trade imbalance between the US and India, noting the substantial trade deficit and alleging that India is leveraging US currency to buy Russian oil, thereby disadvantaging American exporters. Navarro attributes the situation to actions of the Biden administration and suggests that a shift in approach is needed to address the perceived issues.
