Post by : Meena Ariff

The relationship between India and the United States is facing new challenges as Washington increases its pressure on New Delhi to stop buying oil from Russia. A senior adviser to the White House, Peter Navarro, has said that India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil is helping Moscow finance its war in Ukraine. According to him, India’s actions are weakening global efforts to isolate Russia and its economy.

In an opinion piece published this week, Navarro wrote that India has turned into a “global clearinghouse” for Russian oil. He claimed that New Delhi buys embargoed Russian crude and converts it into valuable exports, which in turn provides Moscow with dollars. He argued that India’s dependence on cheap Russian oil is “opportunistic” and harmful for the international push to cut off President Vladimir Putin’s war funding.

India’s Oil Purchases from Russia

India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, after China. Reports suggest that over 30 percent of India’s fuel needs come from Russia. This provides steady revenue to Moscow even though Western sanctions were supposed to weaken its finances after the war began.

India, however, argues that it needs affordable energy to keep its economy running and to protect its citizens from rising fuel prices. New Delhi also points out that Western countries, including the US and the European Union, continue to trade with Russia in other ways, particularly in natural gas and some goods.

Tariffs Spark New Dispute

Adding to the tension, US President Donald Trump recently imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods. This move has created friction between the two countries, especially as they had been negotiating for months on a free trade agreement. The tariffs have hit Indian exports hard, and the trade talks scheduled for later this month have now been postponed.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly defended India’s farmers, who are among the groups most affected by the new tariffs. Modi declared that he would never allow policies that harm the interests of Indian farmers. He said India would “stand like a wall” against any action that threatened them.

India’s Long Friendship with Russia

India has shared a long and close relationship with Russia, especially in the defense sector. A large part of India’s military weapons, including the advanced S-400 missile defense system, comes from Moscow. Even during the Ukraine war, India has maintained friendly relations with Russia. Prime Minister Modi recently met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, signaling the strength of their ties.

At the same time, India has also built a closer partnership with the United States in recent decades. Both countries now enjoy strong trade relations, worth about $128 billion each year. Washington also views New Delhi as an important partner to counter China’s growing influence in Asia.

Strains in US-India Ties

Despite this, Trump’s recent decisions have created unease in New Delhi. The US President has been pushing to reduce America’s trade deficit with India, which currently stands at $45 billion in India’s favor. By imposing high tariffs, Washington hopes to force India to open its markets more widely to US goods.

But these steps may push India closer to its rivals. Modi is planning to visit China at the end of the month, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has already arrived in India for talks. The two sides are expected to discuss their long-running border disputes.

White House Warnings

Navarro is not the only US official to accuse India of helping fund Russia’s war. Earlier this month, Stephen Miller, another senior figure in the Trump administration, also said it was “not acceptable” for India to keep buying Russian crude. He stressed that by continuing such purchases, New Delhi was directly financing Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Navarro also raised concerns about sharing advanced US defense technology with India. He argued that as India moves closer to both Russia and China, it becomes risky for Washington to transfer sensitive military capabilities. He said, “If India wants to be treated as a true strategic partner of the US, it needs to start acting like one.”

India Pushes Back

India’s Foreign Ministry has responded by saying the country is being unfairly singled out. Officials in New Delhi argue that while the US and Europe criticize India, they themselves continue to trade with Russia.

Figures show that the European Union’s total trade with Russia in 2024 was about 67.5 billion euros. This was much lower than in 2021 but still significant. The EU also continues to import Russian natural gas, worth over $100 billion since the war started — an amount almost equal to three-quarters of Russia’s military budget for 2024.

The United States has reduced its trade with Russia, but it still stood at $5.2 billion in 2024. This shows that even Western nations have not completely cut their ties with Moscow. India believes this makes the criticism it faces unfair.

The rising tension between India and the United States comes at a time when both countries need each other to deal with global challenges, especially the growing power of China. While Washington wants New Delhi to act as a close partner, India insists on maintaining its independent foreign policy and protecting its economic interests.