‘Inaccurate and misleading’: MEA slams Trump aide Peter Navarro’s remarks on Russian oil, calls U.S. tariff unfair

“We have seen the inaccurate and misleading statements made by Navarro, and obviously reject them,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.

Navarro had triggered outrage with remarks accusing India of buying Russian oil for profit, saying that “Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of the Indian people.”

The casteist reference drew strong criticism from political leaders and Hindu groups alike.

He further accused India of serving as an “oil money laundromat for the Kremlin,” adding, “If India, the world’s largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the US, it needs to act like one.”

These remarks come amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, including an additional 25% duty tied specifically to India’s Russian crude purchases.

The 25% levy is already in effect, with further duties hitting India from August 27.

India has denounced the tariff hike as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” questioning why it was targeted while China — the largest buyer of Russian crude — has faced no such penalty.

New Delhi continues to defend its oil procurement policy, insisting purchases are guided by market considerations and national interest.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reaffirmed the stance in an interview with Network18 on Friday, stating India will continue buying Russian oil in line with its economic needs.