US trade adviser Navarro says India has to stop buying Russian oil

WASHINGTON - White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India’s purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow’s war in Ukraine and had to stop, adding that New Delhi was “now cosying up to both Russia and China”.

“If India wants to be treated as a strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one,” Mr Navarro wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times.

India’s Foreign Ministry previously said the country is being unfairly singled out for buying Russian oil while the United States and European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia. US President Donald Trump imposed

an additional 25 per cent tariff

on Indian goods earlier in August, citing New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, taking total tariffs on imports from India to 50 per cent.

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

The adviser also said it was risky to transfer cutting-edge US military capabilities to India, as New Delhi was “now cosying up to both Russia and China”.

Long-time rivals China and India are quietly and cautiously strengthening ties against the backdrop of Mr Trump’s unpredictable approach to both.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of August, while

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India from Aug 18

, for talks on the disputed border between the two countries.

A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi from Aug 25 to 29 has been called off, a source said over the weekend, delaying talks on a proposed trade agreement and dashing hopes of relief from additional US tariffs on Indian goods from Aug 27. REUTERS