White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has claimed that he faced intense online backlash from Indians after criticising New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil and its trade policies. Calling the response a “firebombing” on the internet, Navarro urged his critics to stop making what he described as “nasty little attacks.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Peter Navarro said he had been targeted by Indians online following his comments on India’s continued trade with Russia.

“I actually got firebombed by the Indian continent on the internet,” Navarro said, adding that such attacks were not the way problems were resolved in the United States. He urged his critics to “not do that” while defending his position on India’s Russian oil purchases.

The remarks came amid continuing tensions between Washington and New Delhi over trade, tariffs and India’s energy relationship with Moscow.

Navarro has repeatedly criticised India for purchasing large quantities of Russian crude following the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

He argued that India’s purchases helped generate revenue for Moscow and alleged that the trade indirectly supported Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. According to Navarro, India became significantly involved in the Russian oil trade after the conflict began and also increased its role in refining and selling petroleum products.

In an opinion article published in the Financial Times, Navarro described India’s Russian oil trade as “opportunistic” and accused New Delhi of weakening international efforts to isolate Russia economically. He later used stronger language, referring to India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin.”

India Rejects Navarro’s Claims

India has previously rejected Navarro’s allegations, describing his statements about the country’s Russian oil purchases as “inaccurate and misleading.”

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had dismissed the remarks and made clear that New Delhi did not agree with Navarro’s characterisation of India’s energy policy.

India has maintained that its energy purchases are guided by national interests, including energy security and access to affordable supplies.

India-US Trade Tensions

Navarro’s latest remarks come against the backdrop of wider disagreements between India and the United States over tariffs and trade barriers.

The Trump administration has linked its pressure on India to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Navarro has previously criticised India’s tariff policies, even referring to the country as the “Maharaja of tariffs.”

At the same time, Navarro has sought to play down concerns about the broader India-US relationship. Recent comments from the US official indicated that President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintain a strong working relationship and could address the dispute directly.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Navarro suggested that the dispute over Russian oil and trade could be addressed through discussions between the two countries.

He also claimed that his earlier criticism, including an opinion article on India’s oil purchases, may have contributed to a reduction in India’s Russian oil trade.

The latest remarks underline the growing friction between India and the US over Russian oil purchases and trade. While Washington continues to pressure New Delhi on the issue, both sides remain engaged on broader trade and strategic ties.

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