Trump advisor Peter Navarro slams India's 'opportunistic' purchases of Russian crude [View all]

Source: CNBC

Published Mon, Aug 18 2025 3:53 AM EDT


U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro on Monday called on India to stop buying Russian crude oil, accusing the Asian giant of undermining international efforts to isolate Vladimir Putin’s war economy.

Writing in in the Financial Times, Navarro described India’s dependence on Russian oil as “opportunistic,” adding that if India “wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.”

“In effect, India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs,” Navarro said in the op-ed.

His comments come shortly after trade negotiations between the U.S. and India, which had been scheduled to take place in New Delhi later this month, were reportedly called off.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/18/trump-advisor-peter-navarro-says-india-must-stop-buying-russian-oil.html