US President Donald Trump’s senior trade adviser Peter Navarro has launched a fresh tirade—this time targeting Brics nations—branding them “vampires” dependent on trade with the United States.
“They’ve long hated each other—and none survive without selling to the United States,” Navarro said, claiming the alliance is bound to collapse. He accused Brics members of “sucking America dry” with unfair trade practices and insisted the bloc cannot hold together given its internal rivalries.
Navarro cited historical and current flashpoints:
- Russia’s uneasy partnership with China, despite Beijing’s claims over Vladivostok and “colonization” of Siberia through migration.
- Decades of India–China conflict, with Beijing arming Pakistan and asserting influence in the Indian Ocean.
- Brazil’s economy, which he said is “going down the tubes” under Lula’s socialist policies while its “real leader” sits in jail.
Turning to India, Navarro alleged New Delhi fuels Moscow’s war machine by buying discounted Russian crude, accusing it of imposing high tariffs that “cost US jobs.” In a late-night post, he wrote:
“India buys Russian oil purely to profit. Revenues feed Russia’s war machine. Ukrainians and Russians die. US taxpayers shell out more. India can’t handle truth/spins.”
X users, however, quickly flagged his claims with community notes, pointing out India’s oil imports are driven by “energy security” needs and do not breach international sanctions.
The controversy comes amid worsening trade tensions. Washington has slapped punitive secondary tariffs on Indian exports over Russian oil purchases, a move New Delhi has called “unjustified and unreasonable.”
“Like any major economy, India will take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security,” India said in response.
