Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has drawn sharp criticism after accusing India’s Brahmin caste of profiting from Russian oil sales. In a televised interview, Mr Navarro described India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin”, following Washington’s decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs in retaliation for New Delhi’s energy imports from Moscow. His remarks, targeting a specific caste, provoked anger in India, where caste discrimination remains a highly sensitive issue.
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Politicians and media outlets in India accused Mr Navarro of attempting to inflame social divisions for political gain. Opposition MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the comments as “shameful and sinister”, adding that they reflected a “meltdown reaching peak level of senile”. Analysts noted that the controversy risks deepening tensions between the United States and India at a time when Washington seeks to maintain influence in the region against the growing alignment of New Delhi with Russia and China.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Economic Advisory Council, argued that the remarks revealed underlying prejudices in American policy circles, likening them to colonial-era stereotypes about Indian society. While some commentators suggested Mr Navarro may have been alluding to “Boston Brahmins”, a historical elite group in the United States, his remarks were widely interpreted in India as a reference to the country’s caste hierarchy, which places Brahmins at the top. Critics warned that such language risks reinforcing outdated and divisive perceptions.
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The controversy comes as India dramatically increases its energy trade with Russia. Before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russian oil accounted for only 0.2 per cent of India’s imports; today, it makes up around 45 per cent, equating to two million barrels a day and providing Moscow with an estimated £41 billion in revenue last year. Amid strained diplomatic relations, reports suggest Prime Minister Modi has ignored repeated phone calls from Mr Trump, who is also said to be reconsidering a planned visit to India.
