President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to resolve the dispute over US tariffs linked to India's purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday. His remarks come amid growing tensions over India's continued energy ties with Russia and Washington's efforts to pressure countries that purchase Russian crude.

Navarro said the issue would be addressed directly by Trump and Modi, pointing to what he described as a strong working relationship between the two leaders. “The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” Navarro told reporters at the White House, adding that he did not want to intervene in discussions between the two leaders.

The comments came days after the US Senate passed legislation authorising the president to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on major purchasers of Russian oil. The proposed measure is aimed at increasing economic pressure on countries that continue to buy Russian energy, with lawmakers arguing that such purchases provide revenue that supports Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.

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Navarro also defended Washington's position on India's Russian oil purchases, saying India had not been significantly involved in the trade before Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to the adviser, India subsequently increased its purchases of Russian crude and was involved in the sale of refined petroleum products, which he said contributed to Russia's ability to sustain its war effort.

The White House adviser also claimed that the US had played a role in encouraging India to reduce its reliance on Russian oil. Referring to an opinion article he had recently written for the Financial Times, Navarro said, “Maybe, I had a little bit to do with that with that op-ed.” He suggested that developments in India's energy trade with Russia had already addressed part of the concern raised by Washington.

The latest remarks indicate that the tariff dispute remains a matter for diplomatic discussions between Washington and New Delhi. While the proposed US tariff measures could have significant implications for India's energy imports and trade relations, Navarro's comments suggest that both governments are seeking to resolve the issue through direct engagement between Trump and Modi. Further decisions will depend on how the two sides address concerns over Russian oil purchases and broader US-India trade relations.

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