US President Donald Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, has sparked controversy by referring to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war”. Speaking to Bloomberg TV on Tuesday, Navarro claimed that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil is fueling Moscow’s war effort, and insisted that “the road to peace runs at least partly through New Delhi.”
The remarks come a day after Washington imposed steep tariffs of up to 50% on Indian exports, a move that has hit low-margin industries such as textiles and footwear.
Navarro argued that “everybody in America loses because of what India is doing,” pointing to higher costs for consumers, businesses, and taxpayers. He went as far as to say that American taxpayers are indirectly “funding Modi’s war,” a comment he repeated even after the interviewer corrected him with “you mean Putin’s war.”
Criticism Over India’s Russian Oil Purchases
When asked whether India had signaled a shift away from Russian oil, Navarro dismissed the idea. “They are not,” he said, while expressing surprise given his description of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “great leader.” According to Navarro, India could “get 25 percent off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil,” adding that refiners’ partnerships with Moscow allow Russia to profit and “fund its war machine.”
Navarro also linked India’s actions to US financial burdens, claiming that once Russia gains from oil sales, Ukraine turns to the US and Europe for more aid. “So everybody in America loses because of what India is doing,” he reiterated.
India Defends Its Energy Policy
Indian officials, however, have firmly pushed back against US criticism. Vinay Kumar, India’s Ambassador to Moscow, emphasized that New Delhi’s energy cooperation with Russia is part of a broader effort to ensure “energy security for 1.4 billion people.” Speaking to Russian media, Kumar said such cooperation has contributed to “stability in the global oil market.”
He also described the new US tariffs as “unfair, unreasonable and unjustified,” affirming that India will continue to prioritize its national interests.
Echoing these sentiments, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his recent Moscow visit, said he was “perplexed” by Washington’s additional tariffs. Jaishankar recalled that it was the US itself that previously urged countries to work toward global energy market stability—even if that included sourcing oil from Russia.
India’s Stance: Best Deal First
Reiterating India’s independent trade approach, Kumar explained that purchases are made strictly on a commercial basis. “If the basis of commercial transactions is right, Indian companies will continue buying from wherever they get the best deal. That is the current situation,” he said.
With tensions now deepening between Washington and New Delhi over tariffs and oil imports, experts suggest this exchange could set the stage for a fresh phase of trade and diplomatic negotiations between the two countries.
