Peter Navarro, a senior trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, has accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indirectly fueling the Ukraine conflict through New Delhi’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Navarro claimed the war was “essentially Modi’s,” alleging that India’s oil imports were helping fund Moscow’s military operations. He suggested that Washington would cut its 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods to 25 percent if New Delhi halted Russian energy imports.
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The comments came as Trump’s steep tariffs on Indian exports took effect, sparking trade tensions between the two countries. Navarro previously described India as a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” repeating his argument that discounted Russian oil sales sustain Russia’s war effort.
India has rejected the allegations and condemned the new tariffs as “unfair and unreasonable.” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar responded that nations, including the US and Europe, also purchase Russian energy. “Nobody is forced to buy oil products from us. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it,” he said.
New Delhi insists that its energy imports from Moscow are in the national interest, ensuring affordable supplies for its consumers, while arguing that Western nations conduct far larger trade with Russia.
