Trump adviser warns: India sidesteps Ukraine war funding, cozies up to China
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
India is fueling Russia’s war against Ukraine by purchasing Russian oil. The country is also flirting with China, said White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, reports WION.
Speaking to reporters, Trump’s advisor dismissed the notion that India needs Russian oil to meet its energy needs.
“So the argument, somehow, now is [that] the percentage has gone up to like 30 or 35%… somehow they need Russian oil to cool their homes, or cook, or drive their cars, is nonsense,” Navarro stated.
He added that Indian refineries are buying oil at a discount, processing it, and reselling it abroad at higher prices.
The White House advisor stated that they didn’t need the oil, claiming it was a refinery speculation scheme and accusing India of being a conduit for the Kremlin.
Navarro also claimed that the money India earns from trade with the US is redirected to purchase Russian oil, indirectly supporting Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.
“That’s insane, and President Trump sees that chessboard beautifully. You guys need to write about that. That’s what’s going on there. And in many ways, the road to peace runs through New Delhi,” the White House advisor said.
At the same time, he spoke in defense of raising tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50% starting next Wednesday, August 27.
Navarro stated that India apparently does not want to acknowledge its role in the bloodshed. He also accused New Delhi of flirting with Xi Jinping and perpetuating the war.
Navarro said that he believed the increase in tariffs against India would happen and that India apparently did not want to acknowledge its role in the bloodshed. He added that it simply didn’t and was just flirting with Xi Jinping.
When asked why China, another major buyer of Russian oil, does not face similar tariff threats, Trump’s advisor replied: “We have 50% tariffs on China already.”
He did not directly link Beijing’s import of Russian oil to US tariff policy but stated that India’s role under current conditions is more significant.
At the same time, Navarro called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a great leader, while urging the government to reconsider its position. He emphasized that India’s economic decisions are connected not only to trade but also to the future of the war in Ukraine.
India-Russia ties
According to Bloomberg, India and Russia aim to increase trade volume to $100 billion over the next five years by reducing customs tariffs. The reason is that both countries are facing tensions in their relations with the US.
WION also noted that the Russian regime is encouraging India to purchase more Russian oil.
