A fresh diplomatic storm has erupted after Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, controversially branded the Ukraine war as “Modi’s war,” blaming India for indirectly fueling the conflict through its energy ties with Russia. His remarks come as Washington slapped steep new tariffs on Indian exports, straining trade relations between the two countries.
Navarro Targets India Over Russian Oil
Speaking on Bloomberg TV, Navarro blamed India for “financing the war machine” by continuing to buy Russian crude at a discount. Navarro contended that the purchases indirectly finance Moscow’s war in Ukraine while hurting American workers and taxpayers.
“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing,” Navarro said. “The road to peace runs at least partly right through New Delhi.” When the interviewer corrected him, suggesting it was “Putin’s war,” Navarro doubled down, insisting, “Modi’s war.”
He went on to claim that India could see immediate tariff relief if it stopped buying Russian oil, adding that New Delhi’s stance was “arrogant” in dismissing US concerns.
Tariffs Fan Trade Fears
Washington recently slapped a broad 50 per cent tariff on Indian products, on top of a 25 per cent penalty tied specifically to India’s acquisition of Russian oil and weapons. The tariffs target over half of India’s exports to its largest trading partner, targeting industries such as textiles and jewellery but leaving electronics and pharmaceuticals untouched.
India was quick to denounce the actions as “unfair and unreasonable,” saying that its oil imports are determined by national interest and the necessity to acquire cheap energy for its 1.4 billion people. Delhi also pointed out the double standard, observing that Washington has not applied the same tariffs on China, the EU, or other buyers of Russian oil.
Trump and Allies Ratchet Up Criticism
Former President Trump himself has made repeated attacks on India’s trade policies. On Truth Social, he accused New Delhi of having “obnoxious” tariffs and operating a huge trade surplus with the US. According to him, India’s dependence on Russian energy and arms means it is guilty of prolonging the war.
Other Trump supporters have also repeated this line. Stephen Miller referred to it as “astonishing” that India is nearly tied with China for Russian oil imports, while Navarro demanded India “behave like the world’s largest democracy.”
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India Stands Firm, Russia and China Weigh In
Even as the rhetoric has intensified, Indian officials stand resolute. Ambassador Vinay Kumar in Moscow underlined that India’s energy relationship with Russia has provided stability to the world oil market. China, for its part, accused the US of weaponizing tariffs, claiming Washington was employing trade as a weapon of coercion.
While the Ukraine conflict continues, the conflict over oil, duties, and sovereignty has driven India-US relations into one of the most controversial periods in several years.
