Trump aide says he got ‘firebombed’ by India over remarks against its Russian oil purchases
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday responded to criticism in India over his comments about New Delhi and its trade policies, telling his critics not to attack him as he said such an approach is not how problems are resolved in America. White…
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro on Tuesday responded to criticism in India over his comments about New Delhi and its trade policies, telling his critics not to attack him as he said such an approach is not how problems are resolved in America..
Notably, Navarro has repeatedly criticised India, even calling it the “Maharaja of tariffs,” while defending US retaliatory tariffs in response to India's purchase of Russian oil. He said India's involvement increased after the war started.
What Happened
The US official said the issue has now been resolved and claimed that he played a role in reducing India's oil trade with Russia. He said he was “firebombed” by India over his comments about the country and its trade policies involving.
Navarro, who advises US President Donald Trump on trade and manufacturing matters, said India was not involved in the Russian oil trade before the Ukraine war began in 2022.
In September last year, India dismissed Navarro’s comments about its purchases of Russian oil as “inaccurate and misleading”.
He has also referred to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as "Modi's war", claiming that the money Moscow earns through oil sales is used to fund "its war machine" in Ukraine.
Key Details
The US official also urged his critics to stop making “nasty little attacks”, saying such criticism is not how problems are resolved in America.
A few days later, he stepped up his criticism of India, calling the country a "laundromat for the Kremlin".
Meanwhile, India keeps slamming the door on American exports through high tariffs and trade barriers.
As Russia continues to hammer Ukraine, helped by India’s financial support, American (and European) taxpayers are then forced to spend tens of billions more to help Ukraine’s defence.
Why It Matters
In his opinion piece for the Financial Times, he described India's oil trade with Russia as “opportunistic” and “corrosive” to international efforts to isolate the Russian economy.
Navarro has been a vocal critic of India's trade policies involving Russia and has previously accused the country of helping fund Russia's "war machine" in Ukraine.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge
