India's PM fueling Putin's "war machine" by buying Russian oil, Trump adviser says

Trump administration tariffs on India would halve "if it stops buying Russian oil and helping to feed the war machine" in Ukraine, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Wednesday.Why it matters: India's tariffs doubled to 50% on Wednesday, but the key U.S. trading partner is showing no signs of backing down, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging citizens to buy Indian-made and his senior officials meeting with Russia's leader Vladimir Putin last week.Negotiations on a trade deal between U.S. and Indian officials that were due to start this week were called off just days before the highest tariffs in Asia imposed by the Trump administration kicked in.Driving the news: Bloomberg TV's Joe Mathieu asked Navarro during an interview Wednesday whether U.S. officials were in talks with their Indian counterparts and whether there was the potential to reach a deal."It's real easy. India can get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil," Navarro said.Yes, but: He confirmed Indian officials were not sending that signal and they said they won't stop buying Russian oil."When India buys Russian oil at a discount and then Indian refiners in partnership in India with Russian refiners make that and sell it at a premium to the rest of the world, Russia uses the money it gets to fund its war machine, kill more Ukrainians," Navarro said. "And then the next thing that happens, of course, is Ukraine comes to us and Europe and says give us some more money," he continued. "Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing."The consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India's high tariffs cost us jobs, and factories, and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we've got to fund Modi's war," Navarro added.Of note: Asked if he meant Putin's war, Navarro said: "I mean Modi's war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi."The other side: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar vowed to "take all actions necessary to protect national interests" and said it's "perplexing" to hit India with some of the world's largest tariffs when China and the EU were Russia's biggest oil and gas customers, per the Times of India."We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia," he added.Go deeper: Modi issues buy India-made call as Trump's 50% tariffs take effect

Comments

World news

National Post

Alberta minister calls for automatic enrolment in Canada's new disability benefit

about 2 hours ago

Independent

‘He would not have liked the plain Jane logo’: Family of Cracker Barrel’s original designer breaks silence on logo backlash

about 2 hours ago

‘He’s being played everywhere’: Newsom says world leaders laugh at Trump behind his back

Independent

Bombshell texts in Dr. Phil case appear to reveal brazen and ‘problematic’ bankruptcy ‘scheme’ to kickstart new media company

about 2 hours ago

Trump fans fire back at Gavin Newsom by sending him free merch with a sinister message

Independent

Russia’s devastating attack on Kyiv proves Trump’s Ukraine peace plans have failed. It is time for Europe to show leadership

about 4 hours ago

Death panels? New Medicare pilot under Trump would require Obamacare-like authorization that GOP demonized

Independent

Democratic leaders push for Congress to do more on school shootings: ‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough to prevent gun violence’

about 6 hours ago

What is the global ‘sovereign citizen’ movement and why is it so strong in Australia?

Independent

Comments

Similar News

China gains from Trump’s alienation of India

Canada, India name new high commissioners in step toward ‘deepening’ ties

Canada names new high commissioner to India as both restore relations

From boom to ban: The rise and fall of India's betting apps

A Casualty of Trump’s Tariffs: India’s Nascent Solar Industry

How hard will Trump’s 50% tariff hit India, and what is Delhi doing about it?

As Trump’s Higher India Tariffs Go Into Effect, Oil Markets Shrug

India now faces 50% U.S. tariffs. Here’s what could be impacted

Inside India’s endless trials

Trump’s Coercion Is Not the Way to Deal With India

Why India Should Not Walk Into the China-Russia Trap

Wednesday Briefing: Trump’s India Muddle

What does Trump’s 50% tariff mean for India?

Vast private zoo run by son of India's richest man faces inquiry

Family of British man held in India for seven years without trial ask foreign office to help

Watch: Raging rivers cause destruction in parts of northern India

India braces as 50 percent U.S. tariffs come into effect

Trump’s 50% tariffs on India come into force as president puts pressure on country over buying Russian oil – US politics live

Are Trump’s tariffs pushing rivals India and China closer together?

U.S. tariffs take effect on India, threatening $48.2B in exports

World news

Alberta minister calls for automatic enrolment in Canada's new disability benefit

‘He would not have liked the plain Jane logo’: Family of Cracker Barrel’s original designer breaks silence on logo backlash

‘He’s being played everywhere’: Newsom says world leaders laugh at Trump behind his back

Trump wants to hire ‘any attorney’ to replace dozens of immigration judges he fired — with picks at Bondi’s discretion

Van Gogh Museum issues closure warning amid government row

Ex-NFL star who made $40 million scammed $300,000 out of women via dating platforms, cops say

ICE asks permission to use Chicago Navy base as launch pad for its immigration and deportation crackdown

Bombshell texts in Dr. Phil case appear to reveal brazen and ‘problematic’ bankruptcy ‘scheme’ to kickstart new media company

Trump fans fire back at Gavin Newsom by sending him free merch with a sinister message

Urgent search for British man, 66, who vanished in Marbella nearly two weeks ago

Microsoft fires two employees after activists stage Gaza protest in president’s office

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sues Trump after he ‘fired’ her

Crown Royal bottler closing down Ontario plant, moving operations to U.S

Less pork, more veggies keeps Willie Jefferson a dominant defensive force in the CFL

Fed Gov. Lisa Cook sues Trump administration to block her attempted firing

Britons resort to eating in their hotel rooms on holiday as Spain prices surge

Trumpism has come to a quiet Nottinghamshire town

The little-known rule that could explain Isak’s feud with Newcastle

‘It’s a huge betrayal’: Norwich break with 24 years of history and sell to Ipswich

Trump wants an all-powerful presidency – and he’s almost got it

Why even sensitive children don’t need ‘gentle’ parenting

Why RFK Jr. just broke the CDC

New footage reveals third Israeli strike on Gaza hospital that killed 22 and sparked global outrage

Experts reveal the air conditioning strategy to save energy and money when you’re out

RFK Jr, who doesn’t have a medical degree, says he can diagnose children just by just looking at them

A toddler was fatally beaten and left in a bathtub years ago. Cops just nabbed the disguised suspect 1,000 miles away

Non-verbal boy who climbed out of window drowned after ‘blunt force trauma’ by an alligator

Russia’s devastating attack on Kyiv proves Trump’s Ukraine peace plans have failed. It is time for Europe to show leadership

Death panels? New Medicare pilot under Trump would require Obamacare-like authorization that GOP demonized

Wall Street trader’s assistant had to clean fetid sofas after ‘orgies’ at boss’s $21 million NYC townhouse: lawsuit

The Latest: White House says CDC director is fired, agency leaders resign

White House fires CDC director Susan Monarez after she refuses to resign

No injuries in fire at downtown Winnipeg apartment building: WFPS

Sinkhole opens at busy Toronto intersection, leading to basement flooding

UK, France, Germany start process to put sanctions back on Iran

Vox Announces Elias Isquith Joins as Senior Editor for Policy, Politics, and Ideas

Democratic leaders push for Congress to do more on school shootings: ‘Thoughts and prayers are not enough to prevent gun violence’

What is the global ‘sovereign citizen’ movement and why is it so strong in Australia?

Who is Dezi Freeman, suspected gunman on the run in rural Australia after two officers killed?

The country leading the UK and France in boycotting American goods

Heart-stopping moment police catch child jumping from window of burning house

Gun rights influencer responds after Minneapolis shooting suspect praised him in video

Trees damaged by devastating wildfire used to rebuild Los Angeles homes

92% of Ontario post-secondary students stressed about money, survey finds

Massive Russian strike on Ukrainian capital kills 15, hurts 48

Halifax police shoots at car after officer nearly run down, guns drawn at wrong suspects

7 fall 2025 jewellery trends you need to know

Shocking moment Russia strikes British Council building in Kyiv as Starmer accuses Putin of 'sabotaging peace'

Ryanair set to raise bonuses for staff who catch oversized cabin bags

Painting stolen by Nazis is found in an estate agent’s advert – before vanishing

Botswana’s incredible HIV success story, explained in one chart

Cheating is the least AI can do

‘I have been robbed of my hometown’: Lake Como locals are fed up with tourists

Suddenly, Ruben Amorim could be in big trouble at Man Utd

Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme has cleaned up his act

Cash rewards for moving your pension pot could be restricted

How to fix Canada's broke universities? There's a template for that