Washington: White House trade adviser Peter Navarro has stirred controversy by describing the Ukraine conflict as “Modi’s war,” alleging that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil is helping sustain Moscow’s military campaign.
In an interview with Bloomberg on Wednesday, Navarro, who serves as President Donald Trump’s Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing, said the “road to peace runs partly through New Delhi.” He argued that India’s oil imports from Russia effectively feed “the Russian war machine.”
“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. Consumers, businesses, workers — all lose because India’s high tariffs cost us jobs, factories, and higher wages. Then taxpayers lose because we have to fund Modi’s war,” Navarro claimed. When asked whether he meant “Putin’s war,” he doubled down: “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”
The remarks came after Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, taking total duties to 50%. The new levies, effective from Wednesday, are directly linked to India’s energy trade with Russia.
Navarro insisted that the tariffs could be lifted “tomorrow” if India halts Russian oil purchases. “India buys Russian oil at a discount and then refiners sell it at a premium globally. Russia uses that money to fund its war machine, kill more Ukrainians, and then Ukraine turns to the US and Europe for more aid,” he said.
While calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi “a great leader,” Navarro expressed frustration that India — the world’s largest democracy — continues to resist American pressure. “This is a mature democracy with intelligent people running it. Yet they tell us they don’t have the highest tariffs in the world, when they do. And they won’t stop buying Russian oil. What does that mean?” he asked.
India has dismissed the US tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable,” affirming it will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests and economic security.
Navarro further said that stopping both India and China from buying Russian oil would bring the Ukraine war to an end much faster. “If everybody, including Europe, just stopped buying Russian oil, it’s only a matter of time before Putin doesn’t have the money to fund that war,” he added.
Meanwhile, the House Foreign Affairs Committee criticised Trump’s move, warning that targeting India could backfire. In a social media post, it said, “Instead of sanctioning China or others buying larger amounts of Russian oil, Trump’s singling out India with tariffs, hurting Americans and sabotaging the US-India relationship in the process. It’s almost like it’s not about Ukraine at all.”
New Delhi has yet to issue an official response to Navarro’s “Modi’s war” remarks.
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