In a surprising and controversial statement, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro alleged that the Ukraine conflict is “Modi’s war.” Navarro served as Senior Counsellor for Trade and Manufacturing under US President Donald Trump. He made this claim during an interview. In his remarks, he directly blamed India for its role in the crisis.
Navarro Directly Blames India for Prolonging the Conflict
Navarro said that the “road to peace” in Ukraine runs partly “right through New Delhi.” He argued that India is “helping feed the Russian war machine” by continuing to buy oil from Russia at discounted rates. According to him, these purchases provide Moscow with crucial funds that allow Russia to keep its war efforts in Ukraine alive.
What made the comment stand out even more was Navarro’s repeated insistence on calling it “Modi’s war.” When the host asked if he meant to say “Putin’s war,” Navarro doubled down. He replied, “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.” His choice of words instantly sparked debate, as it shifted some of the blame for the Ukraine conflict onto India.
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Additional Tariffs Imposed on India
Navarro’s remarks came on the same day that the United States imposed new tariffs on India. The Trump administration had already been critical of India’s trade practices, and Navarro played a key role in shaping that policy. Under his advice, Washington slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for its ongoing purchases of Russian oil. With this move, the total US tariffs on India rose to 50 per cent.
Navarro explained that the new tariff was a form of pressure. In his words, it was a “real easy” decision for India to make. He claimed that New Delhi could “get 25 per cent off tomorrow” if it stopped buying Russian oil. By framing it this way, Navarro portrayed the trade penalty as temporary and directly tied to India’s decisions on energy imports.
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India strongly rejected the US move. New Delhi described the new tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable.” Officials stressed that India, as a large and growing economy, has the right to make decisions in its own national interest. Safeguarding energy security, they said, is not just a policy choice but a necessity for a country with over a billion citizens.
Oil Trade and Its Global Impact
Navarro went further in his criticism by accusing India of reselling Russian oil to the world. He claimed that Indian refiners purchase crude oil from Russia at discounted prices and then collaborate with Russian refiners to sell the processed oil at a higher rate globally. According to him, this trade arrangement indirectly supports Russia’s war against Ukraine.
“Russia uses the money it gets to fund its war machine, kill more Ukrainians. And then the next thing that happens, of course, is Ukraine comes to the US and Europe and says, give us some more money,” Navarro argued during the interview. His statement linked India’s oil trade to a broader cycle in which Western nations are asked to provide financial aid to Ukraine.
Apart from oil, Navarro also criticised India’s trade policies. He said India has some of the highest tariffs in the world, which he believes hurt American consumers, businesses, and workers. According to him, these barriers raise prices, reduce opportunities, and cause job losses, factory closures, and higher costs in the United States.
At the same time, Navarro praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him “a great leader” and India “a mature democracy.” But he expressed surprise that India continues with high tariffs and oil imports despite US objections.
India has defended its position. Officials say energy security is a priority and discounted Russian oil helps keep domestic prices stable. For a country of over a billion people, they argue, affordable energy is essential. New Delhi has said it will take all necessary steps to protect its national interests.
