'India's Politically Connected Energy Titans': Peter Navarro Posts on Russian Oil Purchase
New Delhi: Controversial White House trade adviser Peter Navarro who a day ago had described Russia’s war in Ukraine as “Modi’s war”, has continued the charge, this time with a thread on X.
Two days ago, the US's 50% tariff card for Indian imports came into effect. It is the highest in Asia, sending shockwaves across traders and industry workers. Twenty five percent of this is what the US calls a "penalty" for India's purchase of Russian oil.
"President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect. This isn’t just about India’s unfair trade – it’s about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putin’s war machine," wrote Navarro as he began the nine-part thread. The tweets begin with an AI-generated image of Trump holding up a placard saying '50% tariffs on India' and end with an image of prime minister Narendra Modi meditating.
4/ Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian oil made up less than 1% of India’s imports.
"Here’s how the India-Russia oil mathematics works: American consumers buy Indian goods while India keeps out U.S. exports through high tariffs and non-tariff barriers. India uses our dollars to buy discounted Russian crude.
"Indian refiners, with their silent Russian partners, refine and flip the black-market oil for big profits on the international market – while Russia pockets hard currency to fund its war on Ukraine.
"Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian oil made up less than 1% of India’s imports. Today? Over 30%—more than 1.5 million barrels a day. This surge isn’t driven by domestic demand—it's driven by Indian profiteers and carries an added price of blood and devastation in Ukraine.
Today? Over 30%—more than 1.5 million barrels a day.
This surge isn’t driven by domestic demand—it's driven by Indian profiteers and carries an added price of blood and devastation in… pic.twitter.com/fO4TtosZBV
— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) August 28, 2025
Advertisement"India’s Big Oil lobby has turned the largest democracy in the world into a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin. Indian refiners buy cheap Russian oil, process it, and export fuels to Europe, Africa, and Asia—shielded from sanctions under the pretense of neutrality.
"India now exports over 1 million barrels a day in refined petroleum—more than half the volume of Russian crude it imports. The proceeds flow to India’s politically connected energy titans—and directly into Putin’s war chest."
Navarro’s posts came hours after three trading sources involved in oil sales to India told Reuters that Indian refiners would increase Russian oil purchases in September by 10-20% from August levels, or by 150,000-300,000 barrels per day.
"While the United States pays to arm Ukraine, India bankrolls Russia even as it slaps some of the world’s highest tariffs on U.S. goods, which in turn punishes American exporters. We run a $50-billion trade deficit with India—and they’re using our dollars to buy Russian oil. They make a killing and Ukrainians die.
Navarro's line complements the official US position that India's purchase of Russian oil helps a particular group. On August 19, Trump cabinet treasury secretary Scott Bessent said that some of India’s richest families are involved in the country’s “unacceptable” “profiteering” from buying and reselling Russian crude.
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9/ The Biden admin largely looked the other way at this madness.
"It doesn’t stop there. India continues to buy Russian weapons—while demanding that U.S. firms transfer sensitive military tech and build plants in India. That’s strategic freeloading.
"The Biden admin largely looked the other way at this madness. President Trump is confronting it. A 50% tariff—25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security—is a direct response. If India, the world's largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to act like one. The road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi."
President Trump is confronting it.
A 50% tariff—25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security—is a direct response.
If India, the world's largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of… pic.twitter.com/XAt6aa4JLA
— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) August 28, 2025
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