White House adviser Peter Navarro labelled the Ukraine conflict "Modi’s war," claiming that India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil has fuelled Moscow’s aggression and burdened American taxpayers, while saying India could get a 25% reduction in US tariffs if it stops buying Russian oil.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television’s Balance of Power, White House adviser Peter Navarro referred to the conflict influenced by India, saying the path to peace "runs, in part, through New Delhi".
Navarro's remarks came as President Donald Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian goods took effect on Wednesday - a move designed to punish India for its continued purchase of Russian crude despite Western pressure.
When asked whether the US is in talks with India and if there is any possibility of adjusting the tariffs, White House adviser Peter Navarro replied, "It's really easy. India can get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and helps to feed the war machine."
He also said, "I'm puzzled. Because Modi is a great leader. This is a matured democracy with matured people running it."
Navarro expressed frustration over India’s stance on tariffs, saying, "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," Navarro said as quoted by Bloomberg.
Navarro accused India of helping bankroll Moscow’s war effort. "By purchasing Russian oil at a discount, Russia uses the money it gets to fund its war machine to kill more Ukrainians," he said. "Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing."
He argued that the costs ripple across the US 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."
"I mean Modi’s war because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi," the White House adviser added as quoted by Bloomberg.
Last week, Navarro accused New Delhi of refinery profiteering and dubbing it a "laundromat" (self-service laundry) for Russian oil.
"India uses the money that they get from us when they sell us stuff to buy Russian oil, which then is 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.
