White House Adviser Says Trump and Modi Will Resolve Russia Sanctions Issue

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro stated on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue regarding potential U.S. tariffs on India's purchase of Russian oil. The comments follow the U.S. Senate's passage of the Lindsey Graham Bill, also known as the Russia Sanctions Bill, which authorizes the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top five purchasers of Russian crude oil and natural gas, including India and China. The bill passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 86 to 11 but requires a vote in the House of Representatives to become law.

Navarro noted that India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine but became heavily involved afterward, selling refined products that he claimed helped feed the Russian war machine. He asserted that the issue has since been resolved and suggested that an op-ed he wrote for the Financial Times may have contributed to weaning India off the trade. Navarro described the working relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi as very good, stating that the two leaders will work the matter out themselves.

Navarro also addressed the backlash he received following his previous criticisms of India, noting that he was firebombed on the internet by the Indian continent with nasty little attacks. He told reporters that such behavior is not how problems are resolved in America. Previous remarks by Navarro included calling India a laundromat for the Kremlin and the Maharaja of tariffs. India's external affairs ministry previously dismissed these statements as inaccurate and misleading.