‘Brahmins Profiteering’: Navarro Slams India’s Russian Oil Deals

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has once again criticised India’s purchase of Russian oil, describing the country as “nothing but a laundromat for the Kremlin” and claiming that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.” His remarks come amid the 50% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian goods, justified by Washington as a response to New Delhi’s energy trade with Russia.

In an interview with Fox News, Navarro questioned why India, “the biggest democracy in the world,” is doing business with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He alleged that Indian refiners profit from discounted Russian crude, exporting it at a premium to Europe, Africa, and Asia, thereby indirectly funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro also described India as the “Maharaja of tariffs,” accusing New Delhi of blocking US exports and harming American workers while boosting its own revenue. While calling PM Modi a “great leader,” he criticised his engagement with Putin and Xi, asserting that Indian citizens should be aware of who profits from these deals.

India has defended its Russian oil purchases, stating that they are guided by market conditions, global energy supply considerations, and national security imperatives. The Ministry of External Affairs also noted that Washington initially encouraged such imports to strengthen global energy market stability, highlighting that US and European trade with Russia continues in other sectors.

This is not Navarro’s first sharp critique; he has previously called India an “oil money laundromat” and linked its energy trade with Russia to the Ukraine conflict, escalating tensions in the ongoing US-India trade dispute.