- Navarro says Trump and Modi have a “very good working relationship.”
- The US Senate passed a bill allowing tariffs of up to 100 per cent.
- India remains one of the largest buyers of Russian crude.
- Washington says Russian energy purchases help fund Moscow’s war effort.
- India has defended its oil purchases as a matter of energy security.
The threat of steep U.S. tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil has put India at the center of a new trade dispute with Washington. India is among the largest purchasers of Russian crude, making it a potential target under legislation now moving through Congress.
Presidential counselor Peter Navarro sought to play down concerns about the impact on US-India relations, saying president Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi would handle the issue directly.
“The President (Donald Trump) and your prime minister (Narendra Modi) have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves, and it's not for me or any gaggle to get between that,” Navarro said.
Navarro made the comments in response to a question from ANI about the proposed legislation, which could give Trump broad authority to impose tariffs on countries continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas.
Senate bill raises stakes over Russian oil
The US Senate on Friday (7) passed the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 by an 86-11 vote. The bipartisan measure could authorize tariffs of up to 100% on imports from major buyers of Russian crude oil or natural gas.
India and China are among the world's largest buyers of Russian energy. If enacted and used, the measure could raise the cost of Indian goods entering the U.S. market and add another complication to trade relations between the two countries.
The legislation is designed to increase economic pressure on Russia and Iran and includes additional sanctions targeting Russian officials, financial institutions and energy-related entities.
For India, the issue is particularly sensitive because Russian crude became a major source of oil after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Why India's Russian oil purchases matter
India sharply increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude after the war began, helping refiners manage costs as global energy markets faced disruption. Russia had previously accounted for a relatively small share of India's oil imports.
The purchases have drawn criticism from Washington and other Western governments, which argue that revenue from Russian energy exports helps support Moscow's war effort. India has maintained that its energy decisions are based on national interests and the need to secure affordable supplies for its large domestic market.
Navarro also defended his earlier criticism of India's Russian oil trade, referring to an opinion piece he said he wrote for the Financial Times several months ago.
“During the Ukraine-Russia war...6-8 months ago, I think I wrote wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times, which absolutely, factually, correctly, pointed out that prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved and was selling a lot of refined products on behalf of Russia, which helped feed the war machine,” Navarro said.
“And that issue has been resolved. Maybe I had a little bit to do with that with that op-ed,” he added.
Navarro said his comments had triggered a strong online response in India.
“But I can tell you, I got actually firebombed by the Indian continent on the internet,” he said.
He added: “All I would say to you, don't do that. That's not how we resolve problems here in America,” Navarro said.
