WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI – In a jaw-dropping escalation of U.S.-India tensions, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has shockingly labeled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “Modi’s War,” accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India of fueling Vladimir Putin’s aggression through discounted Russian oil purchases. The bizarre claim, made just hours after crippling 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods took effect, has ignited a firestorm of backlash, with critics slamming it as hypocritical propaganda. As Trump pushes for a Ukraine ceasefire while courting Putin, is this “war” really Modi’s fault – or a desperate deflection from America’s own role in prolonging the conflict? Social media is exploding with memes, outrage, and questions about U.S. double standards, especially since China – Russia’s top oil buyer – faces no such penalties.
Navarro’s Explosive Rant: “Modi’s War” and Arrogant India
Navarro, Trump’s hawkish trade enforcer and architect of the U.S.-China trade war, dropped the bombshell during a Bloomberg TV interview on August 27. “Everybody in America loses because we’ve got to fund Modi’s war,” he fumed, insisting the “road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.” When host Joe Mathieu corrected him – “You mean Putin’s war?” – Navarro doubled down: “I mean Modi’s war.”
His fury centers on India’s surge in Russian oil imports, now 35-40% of its total crude – up from under 2% before Russia’s 2022 invasion. Navarro claims India acts as a “global clearinghouse,” buying cheap Russian barrels, refining them (often in partnership with Russian firms), and exporting premium products worldwide – all while funneling dollars to Moscow’s “war machine.” “India doesn’t need the oil… It’s a refining profiteering scheme,” he wrote in a Financial Times op-ed earlier this month, warning that New Delhi is “cozying up” to authoritarians like Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.
Navarro didn’t stop there. He blasted India’s “arrogance,” mocking officials who defend their sovereignty: “They say, ‘Oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want.’ India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world, OK, act like one.” He tied it to trade imbalances, accusing India of “cheating” with “Maharaja tariffs” that cost U.S. jobs, and suggested halting Russian buys could slash the new 25% penalty tariff “tomorrow.” In a YouTube clip that’s gone viral, Navarro rants: “India cheats us on trade… Then they use the money to buy Russian oil.”
This isn’t Navarro’s first shot. In August, he called India a “laundromat for the Kremlin” and questioned sharing U.S. military tech with a nation buying 36% of its arms from Russia. Trump himself amplified the narrative on Truth Social, slamming India’s “strenuous and obnoxious” tariffs and vowing penalties for its Russia ties: “They can take their dead economies down together.”
The Tariffs: 50% Hammer Hits as “Modi’s War” Narrative Explodes
The remarks timed perfectly with Trump’s executive order doubling tariffs to 50% on most Indian imports – the highest in Asia – effective August 27. The baseline 25% reciprocal tariff (for India’s duties on U.S. goods) plus a 25% “penalty” for Russian oil and arms buys targets textiles, gems, jewelry, auto parts, and seafood – sectors employing millions. Exemptions for pharma and electronics offer little relief; exporters warn of factory closures and canceled orders, with apparel alone facing a U.S. market exodus.
India’s response? Defiant. The External Affairs Ministry called the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” highlighting U.S. hypocrisy: America imports $3.5 billion in Russian goods yearly (including uranium), while China – the biggest Russian oil buyer – escapes penalties. PM Modi, in an Independence Day speech, vowed to shield farmers and vowed no compromise on national interests, promising tax cuts to blunt the blow. Bilateral trade hit $131.8 billion last year, but negotiations collapsed this week.
Goldman Sachs predicts GDP growth dipping below 6% if tariffs persist, but India insists its oil buys – worth over $130 billion since 2022 – stabilize prices for 1.4 billion people amid global chaos caused by Europe’s diversion of Russian supplies. “We seek the best deal,” officials say, operating under NATO’s Russian oil price cap.
X Erupts: Hypocrisy, Memes, and “Modi’s War” Backlash
Social media is ablaze with #ModisWar trending in India, mixing fury, sarcasm, and conspiracy theories. Users mock Navarro’s Jinnah-like beard in memes: “If Ukraine war runs on Indian funding, stop bragging about being World No.1 – you’re drunk on propaganda.” One viral post: “Trump likes Putin but blames India… It’s personal.” TIMES NOW called it a “Theatre of Absurd,” questioning if it’s “100% Propaganda” to hide U.S. hypocrisy.
Critics point out the war started in 2014 – under Obama, not Modi – and accuse the West of fueling it with $100+ billion in arms to Ukraine. Reddit’s r/geopolitics thread exploded with 94 upvotes: “Modi’s war? India isn’t even the largest buyer… Trump threatened to withdraw Ukraine support without a mineral deal.” Indian analyst Tanvi Madan lamented: “Striking how many independent Indian analysts won’t call Putin’s invasion what it was.” Buzz Indica highlighted a U.S. expert’s response: “Modi’s War? Absurd.”
Defenders like @TrumpWarRoom pivoted to unrelated wins, but the chorus is clear: “Ukraine war is USEU war,” one user quipped, noting EU gas imports equal 75% of Russia’s military budget.
| Navarro’s Claims vs. Reality |
|---|
| Claim: India funds “Modi’s War” via oil – Russia uses profits for drones/bombs. |
| Claim: India “arrogant,” side with democracies. |
| Claim: Stop oil buys for 25% tariff cut. |
| Claim: U.S. taxpayers fund due to India. |
Trump’s Ukraine Pivot: Peace Talks with Putin, Pressure on India
Ironically, Navarro’s tirade comes as Trump hosts Putin in Alaska for “diplomacy” and meets Zelenskyy, promising to end the war “Day 1” – a pledge unmet. Trump threatens 100% secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers if no ceasefire by August 8, but spares China while hammering India. Experts like Carnegie’s Milan Vaishnav call it a “serious rupture,” eroding Quad trust against China.
India’s defiance – Modi’s China visit this week, SCO ties – signals a realignment toward BRICS/Russia. As one X user put it: “If it’s Modi’s war, why not attack India? West’s problems aren’t the world’s.” With tariffs biting and rhetoric flying, is this Trump’s war on allies – or a bluff to force deals before midterms? The absurdity has the world watching, but India’s standing firm: No Modi, no “Modi’s War.”
Sources: Hindustan Times, Bloomberg, Times of India, BBC, Al Jazeera, CNBC, The Independent, NDTV, Business Standard, The Hindu, Gazette, FT, Axios, and X posts.