WASHINGTON, DC – “Arrogant” and “Modi’s war” were the phrases Donald Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro used on August 27 as he launched a scathing attack on India’s decision to continue purchasing Russian oil, urging New Delhi to “act like” a democracy and align with the West.

Speaking on Bloomberg Television’s ‘Balance of Power,’ Navarro said India’s discounted oil imports from Moscow were indirectly funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and forcing U.S. taxpayers to bear the cost of supporting Kyiv.

“The Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want. India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world. Okay? Act like one. Side with the democracies,” he said.

Navarro framed the conflict as “PM Modi’s war,” arguing that India’s energy policies prolong the fighting. “Ukraine comes to us and Europe and says give us more money. Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. Consumers and businesses lose, workers lose because India’s high tariffs cause jobs, income and higher wages. The taxpayer lose because we got to fund Modi’s war,” he told Bloomberg, adding that “the road to peace runs at least partly through New Delhi.”

On social media, Trump too has accused India of re-exporting much of the crude it buys from Moscow “for big profits” while ignoring the human toll of the war.

Navarro also attacked India’s improving relations with Beijing, calling it a dangerous alignment with authoritarian powers. “You’re getting in bed with the authoritarians,” he said. “China, you’ve been at war with them for decades. They invaded Aksai Chin and all your territory. These are not your friends.”

with I-W News Desk