US President Donald Trump’s aide Peter Navarro is engaging in a series of provocative statements against India, fuelling tensions between the two countries. Here’s everything you need to know about Navarro’s rhetoric against India:
1. WHO IS NAVARRO?
Peter Navarro is an economist and an author who is the Senior Counselor for Trade and manufacturing to Trump. He was the Director of White House National Trade Council during the first Trump administration. He is know to have encouraged Trump to adopt protectionist trade policies in 2017.
Additionally, in 2024, Navarro became the first former White House official to be imprisoned over a contempt-of-Congress conviction. He was sentenced to 4 months in jail for trying to overturn the 2020 Presidential elections, which was won by Joe Biden.
2. ‘MODI’S WAR’
Navarro called the Russian-Ukraine conflict “Modi’s war”, accusing India of indirectly supporting Russian aggression. He said India buys oil from Russia and Russia uses that money for war machines to kill more Ukrainians. “And then Ukraine comes to us [for aid]…So American taxpayers lose because we’ve got to fund Modi’s war,” he told Bloomberg.
He added, “While the United States pays to arm Ukraine, India bankrolls Russia even as it slaps some of the world’s highest tariffs on U.S. goods, which in turn punishes American exporters.” He also claimed that India uses dollars to buy Russian oil.
3. ‘INDIA IN BED WITH AUTHORITARIANS’
Navarro accused India of not acting like a democracy since it does not “side with democracies”. “You’re getting in bed with the authoritarians. China invaded…all your territory. These are not your friends,” he added.
China, who is a neighbour of India, engages in frequent diplomatic meets with India. Further, India has always had a good relationship with Russia. Notably, both these countries are America’s enemies Recently, India met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025. A video showed PM Narendra Modi holding hands with Putin and walking towards Xi.
4. ‘INDIA FILLING PUTIN’S WAR CHEST’
According to Navarro, India is directly financing Moscow’s war effort. He argues that by purchasing discounted Russian crude oil, India is “filling Putin’s war chest” and enabling Russia to withstand Western sanctions. Calling it “blood money”, he claimed that every dollar India spends on Russian oil is another dollar fueling missiles and tanks used against Ukraine.
“India now exports over 1 million barrels a day in refined petroleum—more than half the volume of Russian crude it imports. The proceeds flow to India’s politically connected energy titans—and directly into Putin’s war chest,” Navarro said on social media.
“Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian oil made up less than 1% of India’s imports. Today? Over 30%…This surge isn’t driven by domestic demand—it’s driven by Indian profiteers and carries an added price of blood and devastation in Ukraine,” he added.
5. ‘INDIA IS FREELOADING’
He even accused India of freeloading. He wrote on X, “India continues to buy Russian weapons—while demanding that U.S. firms transfer sensitive military tech and build plants in India. That’s strategic freeloading.”
He claimed that America runs run a $50-billion trade deficit with India. However, his claim has been challenged by official data.
6. ‘ROAD TO PEACE RUNS THROUGH NEW DELHI’
Navarro insists that India holds the key to ending the Russia-Ukraine war. He argued that the “road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi”, meaning that without India reducing its dependence on Russian energy, Western sanctions will remain ineffective.
By framing India as the decisive player, Navarro is pressuring the US to push India harder diplomatically, even though the US officially calls India a “key partner” in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
7. ‘TARIFFS ARE JUSTIFIED’
Navarro has defended steep tariffs on Indian goods by saying that they are needed to protect American manufacturers. He argued that India unfairly benefits from US markets while keeping high trade barriers for American companies. During Trump’s first term, tariffs were imposed on Indian steel and aluminum. Navarro now contends that such tariffs should extend to more sectors, including textiles, IT services, and pharmaceuticals, unless India opens its markets further.
“A 50% tariff—25% for unfair trade and 25% for national security—is a direct response. If India, the world’s largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to act like one,” he tweeted.
8. ‘IT WON’T END WELL FOR INDIA’
Navarro has stated that India must “come around at some point” for trades negotiations with America. “And if it doesn’t, it’s laying down with Russia and China, and that won’t end well for India,” he warned.
Earlier, Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the two countries are likely to finalise a trade deal this year.
9. ‘BRAHMINS PROFITEERING’
Speaking on Fox News, Navarro called India the “maharaja of tariffs”, adding, “They have the highest tariffs in the world. They export us a bunch of stuff. So, who gets hurt? Workers in America, taxpayers, Ukrainians…I want Indians to understand what is going on. You have got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people, and we want that to stop.”
His ‘Brahmin’ remark was most likely on ‘Boston Brahmins’, which is a term used to denote social and economic elites. However, his remark was heavily criticised in India.
10. NAVARRO’S COMMENTS ATTACKED
Reacting to Navarro’s ‘Brahmin’ statement, Indian billionaire Harsh Goenka said, “Dear Peter Navarro, India’s boardrooms aren’t run by Brahmins. Tata? Not Brahmin. Reliance? Not Brahmin. Mahindra? Not Brahmin. Wipro? Not Brahmin. Birla? Not Brahmin.”
The billionaire added, “But India’s soldiers, scientists, poets? Many were. From Param Vir Chakra heroes to Nobel minds like C.V. Raman, S. Chandrasekhar and Tagore. Unlike some others who are trying to lobby for the Nobel prize, our Brahmins got their prize only through merit.”
The Community Notes on X debunked Navarro’s claim that India buys Russian oil only for profit and to fuel Russian war.
It was also pointed out that the US also imports Russian uranium.
The Indian government has also called Navarro’s statements “inaccurate” and “misleading”, adding, “The relationship between the United States and India is very important for us.”
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