White House adviser and senior aide to Donald Trump, Peter Navarro, has claimed that the ongoing war in Ukraine is "essentially Modi's war", holding India responsible for aiding Russia through its purchase of discounted oil.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Navarro suggested that Washington could offer India a 25% reduction in US tariffs if New Delhi stopped importing Russian crude.
Emphasising India's role, Navarro said, "I mean, it is essentially Modi's war because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi."
The comments came at a time when the US imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, effective Wednesday, as part of Trump's strategy to pressure New Delhi over its continued energy ties with Moscow despite Western sanctions.
With its relationship with Washington at a low point, India has been strengthening its partnership with Russia while attempting to ease tensions with China by downplaying the border issue.
Navarro further remarked, "India can get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and help in defeating the war machine. Instead of siding with democracies, you are getting in bed with authoritarians. You have been in a quiet war with China for decades. China invaded Aksai Chin and all your territory. They are not your friends. And Russia? Come on!"
Frustrated with India’s stance, the White House adviser said he remained perplexed. "I'm puzzled. Because Modi is a great leader. This is a matured democracy with matured people running it," Navarro noted.
However, he added that India’s position was troubling. "What's troubling to me is that the Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, 'Oh, we don’t have higher tariffs. Oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want,'" he told Bloomberg.
Accusing India of indirectly funding Moscow’s war effort, Navarro said, "By purchasing Russian oil at a discount, Russia uses the money it gets to fund its war machine to kill more Ukrainians."
He also argued that the consequences extend to the American economy. "Consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India’s high tariffs cost us jobs, and factories, and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we have got to fund Modi’s war."
Just last week, Navarro accused India of engaging in refinery profiteering, even calling the country a "laundromat" for Russian oil.
"India uses the money that they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which is then processed by refiners, and they make a bunch of money there. But then the Russians use the money to build more arms and kill Ukrainians, and so American taxpayers have to provide more aid, military style, to the Ukrainians. So that's insane," he added.