NEW DELHI (Monitoring Desk) – A senior White House adviser has sparked controversy by describing the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” accusing India of bankrolling Russia through large-scale oil purchases — remarks that come just as Washington’s hefty 50% tariffs on Indian goods take effect.
Peter Navarro, President Trump’s top trade and manufacturing counselor, delivered the biting remarks during an interview with Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, hours after the punitive tariffs were enforced.
The new tariffs — among the steepest ever imposed on a US partner — also include a 25% penalty targeting countries purchasing Russian energy and weapons. Washington argues that such trade is helping Moscow sustain its military campaign in Ukraine.
India pushes back
New Delhi has rejected the move, branding the tariffs “unfair” and vowing to prioritize affordable energy for its 1.4 billion citizens. Officials insist India will continue sourcing oil wherever it gets the “best deal.”
Russia’s share of India’s crude imports has soared from less than 2% before the Ukraine war to nearly 40% today, making Moscow Delhi’s biggest energy supplier.
India has also pointed out what it sees as double standards: Washington has not applied comparable penalties on China — the largest importer of Russian oil — or on the European Union, which maintains significant trade with Russia.
Navarro turns up the heat
Navarro doubled down on the US position, claiming that India’s policies hurt American workers and industries.
“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing,” he said, alleging that Indian tariffs undermine US jobs and wages. “And then the taxpayers lose because we’ve got to fund Modi’s war.”
When pressed on whether he meant “Putin’s war,” Navarro replied: “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”
He further criticized India’s stance as “arrogant,” saying: “You’re the biggest democracy in the world — act like one.”
Mixed US messaging
Despite Navarro’s hardline rhetoric, other US officials have struck a more conciliatory tone. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that while disagreements persist, Washington and Delhi remain “natural partners.”
“I do think India’s the world’s largest democracy; the US is the world’s largest economy. At the end of the day, we will come together,” Bessent noted.
Trade talks in trouble
The tariffs have already derailed scheduled trade talks between the two nations, sending India’s export sector into firefighting mode. While Delhi maintains that the immediate hit on shipments is limited, economists warn of serious ripple effects if the standoff drags on.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised tax cuts and support measures to cushion the blow. Meanwhile, India’s finance ministry stressed in its latest monthly review that negotiations with Washington will be “crucial” in resolving the crisis.
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