Washington: A fierce diplomatic storm has erupted after White House trade adviser Peter Navarro declared that the Russia-Ukraine war was, in part, “PM Modi’s war,” accusing New Delhi’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude of fueling Moscow’s military campaign. His remarks came only hours after US President Donald Trump’s sweeping 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods came into effect, the most punitive levy Washington has imposed on any Asian nation in recent years.
Speaking to Bloomberg Television, Navarro sharpened his criticism, asserting that “the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.” He claimed that every barrel of oil India purchased at a discount was strengthening Russia’s “war machine” and placing additional strain on American taxpayers forced to fund Kyiv’s defense.
Trump’s new tariff regime has doubled the earlier 25 per cent duty imposed just weeks ago, with the latest measures targeting over half of India’s exports to the US, its largest overseas market. While electronics and pharmaceuticals have been spared for now, labour-heavy sectors such as textiles and jewellery are expected to bear the brunt. Navarro dangled the prospect of tariff relief, saying India could see its duties cut by 25 per cent if it agreed to halt Russian oil imports immediately.
In unusually blunt language, the Trump aide chastised India for what he called “arrogance” in the face of American concerns. “India says it’s about sovereignty, but democracies have responsibilities. You’re the world’s largest democracy act like one,” Navarro said. He argued that Indian purchases directly undermined Western attempts to squeeze Moscow’s revenue under the G7-imposed $60-per-barrel price cap.
India, however, has mounted a firm defense of its energy policy. Officials in New Delhi insist that buying discounted Russian oil is necessary to keep domestic fuel prices stable in a fragile post-pandemic economy. They argue that Washington’s tariffs are “unjustified” and overlook the fact that other major economies, including China, continue to import large volumes of Russian crude without facing similar penalties.
The dispute underscores a widening rift in Indo-US relations at a time when both nations had hoped to advance trade negotiations. Despite months of discussions, no deal has materialised, and instead, India finds itself the lone target of what Trump has branded “secondary tariffs.”
Navarro’s claim that Moscow is “killing Ukrainians with Indian money” echoes Trump’s own hard line on the issue and may complicate New Delhi’s balancing act between strategic autonomy and global diplomatic pressures. Historically, India depended more heavily on Middle Eastern suppliers, but since 2022 it has seized the opportunity to purchase discounted Russian cargoes after Western sanctions reshaped global energy flows.
As Washington hardens its stance, New Delhi faces an increasingly difficult choice: stick to its energy pragmatism and absorb higher tariffs, or bow to American pressure and recalibrate its ties with Moscow. Either way, the coming months could reshape not just trade flows but the tenor of one of the world’s most closely watched bilateral partnerships.