Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to the White House, stated that India’s acquisition of Russian crude oil finances Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and must cease.
He further remarked that New Delhi is “now cozying 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,” Navarro wrote in an opinion piece published in the Financial Times.
India’s stance
India’s Foreign Ministry has consistently asserted that the nation is being unfairly targeted for its continued purchase of Russian oil.
This stance comes amidst a broader global discussion where the US and the European Union, despite their public criticisms of Russia’s actions, continue to procure various goods from the country. This perceived double standard has been a point of contention for New Delhi.
Adding to the economic pressure, US President Donald Trump recently implemented an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods earlier this month.
This move was explicitly cited as a direct consequence of New Delhi’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil.
This latest imposition brought the total tariffs on imports from India to a substantial 50%, significantly impacting trade relations and potentially leading to higher costs for American consumers and reduced competitiveness for Indian exporters.
The escalation of these tariffs highlights the growing tension between the two nations over India’s energy sourcing policies.
Navarro said:
India acts as a global clearinghouse for Russian oil, converting embargoed crude into high-value exports while giving Moscow the dollars it needs.
Strategic concerns
A key concern voiced by the adviser highlighted the inherent risks associated with transferring advanced US military technologies and capabilities to India.
This apprehension stemmed from India’s increasingly complex geopolitical alignments, specifically its perceived rapprochement with both Russia and China.
The adviser argued that such transfers could potentially compromise sensitive US defense assets or intelligence, given India’s willingness to engage with nations viewed as strategic competitors to the US.
This perspective underscores the delicate balance the US navigates in its defense partnerships, where the desire to bolster allies must be weighed against the potential for technology proliferation or the strengthening of rival powers through indirect means.
The adviser’s caution reflects a broader strategic debate within US foreign policy circles regarding the long-term implications of military technology sharing with non-aligned or multi-aligned states.
Amidst the unpredictable nature of Trump’s foreign policy, China and India, long-standing rivals, are discreetly and tentatively forging stronger ties.
This diplomatic shift is highlighted by upcoming high-level engagements.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit India on Monday to discuss the contested border, and later this month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A US trade delegation’s planned visit to New Delhi, scheduled for August 25-29, has been canceled.
This cancellation, as reported by Reuters, postpones discussions on a potential trade agreement and diminishes hopes of an exemption from additional US tariffs on Indian products, set to begin on August 27.
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