August 28, 2025, WASHINGTON/NEW DELHI – President Donald Trump’s aggressive tariff hikes on India, framed as punishment for New Delhi’s purchases of discounted Russian oil, have escalated into what many are calling an economic “war” against a key U.S. ally. As Trump courts Russian President Vladimir Putin for a Ukraine ceasefire, his administration’s rhetoric has turned scorching: White House trade advisor Peter Navarro dubbed the Russia-Ukraine conflict “Modi’s War,” accusing India of arrogance and indirectly funding Moscow’s aggression. The moves, which include doubling tariffs to 50% on Indian goods, risk unraveling decades of strategic partnership, pushing India closer to Russia and even China in a surprising geopolitical realignment.
The Tariff Escalation: From 25% to 50% in Weeks
Trump’s campaign against India’s Russia ties kicked off in early August 2025, when he imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing longstanding trade barriers and military purchases from Moscow. But the real flashpoint was oil: India, the world’s third-largest crude importer, has ramped up Russian purchases to over 35% of its total imports since the 2022 Ukraine invasion, snapping up discounted barrels to fuel its booming economy. Trump blasted this on Truth Social, claiming India “doesn’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine” and is reselling the oil for “big profits.”
By August 6, Trump followed through with an executive order adding another 25% “penalty” tariff, effective August 27, for India’s Russian oil buys—bringing the total to 50%, one of the highest rates imposed on any U.S. trading partner. The levies target key exports like textiles, gems, jewelry, auto parts, and seafood, potentially costing India’s economy billions and affecting millions of jobs. Exemptions remain for pharmaceuticals and electronics, but the damage is already mounting: Goldman Sachs warns sustained tariffs could shave India’s GDP growth below 6%.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs fired back, calling the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” and accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy—pointing out that Washington still imports $3.5 billion in goods from Russia, including uranium and fertilizers, while criticizing others. “The very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” the ministry stated, vowing to “take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests.”
Navarro’s Bombshell: “Modi’s War” and Blaming India for Ukraine
The rhetoric hit fever pitch this week when Navarro, a staunch Trump loyalist, appeared on Bloomberg and Fox News, labeling the Ukraine conflict “Modi’s War.” “Everyone in America loses because India buys oil from Russia. US taxpayers have to send money for Modi’s war in Ukraine,” Navarro claimed, urging India to “side with democracies, not with China and Russia.” When corrected by an anchor—”You mean Putin’s war?”—Navarro doubled down: “No, I mean Modi’s war.”
Navarro accused India of acting as a “global clearinghouse” for Russian oil, converting it into refined products and funneling dollars to Moscow’s war chest. He also slammed New Delhi for refusing U.S. calls and being “arrogant” about sovereignty. Other Trump aides, like Stephen Miller, echoed this, calling India’s oil buys “astonishing” and tying it with China’s imports. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent piled on, accusing India of “profiteering” from cheap Russian crude.
On X, the backlash was swift. Users mocked Navarro’s resemblance to Muhammad Ali Jinnah and questioned why China—the largest Russian oil buyer—faces no penalties. One post quipped: “If the Ukraine-Russia war runs on Indian funding, then stop bragging about being World No.1—you’re just drunk on propaganda.” Indian media outlets like NDTV and India TV aired segments decoding the “desperate” insults, with anchors questioning if U.S. rhetoric is killing bilateral ties.
Trump’s Russia Pivot: Courting Putin While Pressuring India
Ironically, Trump’s “war” on India contrasts sharply with his overtures to Russia. On August 15, he hosted Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, for talks hailed as an “important day of diplomacy” by Moscow’s Kirill Dmitriev. Trump has pushed for a Ukraine ceasefire by August 8, threatening 100% secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers if unmet—but sparing China while hammering India. Vice President JD Vance called the India tariffs “secondary” to squeeze Russia’s economy, yet analysts like Matt Gertken of BCA Research see it as leverage for trade deals and midterm boosts.
India’s defiance is rooted in energy needs: It imports 90% of its oil, and Russian crude keeps prices stable for 1.4 billion people. Officials note the U.S. once encouraged these buys to cap global prices, with former Ambassador Eric Garcetti admitting: “We wanted somebody to buy Russian oil.” Bilateral India-Russia trade hit $68.7 billion in FY2025, dwarfing pre-war levels.
| Key Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs on India | Potential Repercussions |
|---|---|
| Hits $150B+ U.S.-India trade; targets textiles, gems (millions of jobs at risk) | GDP growth dips below 6%; exporters pivot to rivals like Turkey/Thailand |
| Exempts pharma/electronics but adds 50% on most goods from Aug. 27 | Erodes trust in Quad alliance; India deepens Russia ties (oil at 35% of imports) |
| U.S. hypocrisy: Imports $3.5B from Russia; spares China (top oil buyer) | Pushes India-China-Russia coordination at BRICS/G20; revives RIC framework |
A Fractured Alliance: From “Great Friend” to “Dead Economy”
Once hailed as a “win-win partnership,” U.S.-India ties under Trump have soured fast. PM Narendra Modi, who visited Washington early in Trump’s second term, now faces personal barbs—Trump feels “aggrieved” over Modi’s denial of U.S. credit in an India-Pakistan ceasefire and farm trade barriers. Trump called India a “dead economy” on Truth Social, dismissing calls: “I don’t care what India does with Russia.”
Experts warn of catastrophe. Milan Vaishnav of Carnegie calls it the “most serious rupture in decades,” eroding trust in the Quad (U.S., India, Japan, Australia) against China. Evan Feigenbaum adds: “The premises of the last 25 years have unraveled.” India is signaling alternatives: Recent Moscow visits, BRICS coordination with China, and vows to buy local amid tariffs.
On X, Indians vent frustration: “Trump likes Putin but blames India… It’s personal.” As Trump eyes midterms and a Ukraine deal, his India gambit could backfire, uniting adversaries against the U.S. With trade talks stalled and Modi defiant, the “war” shows no signs of cooling.
Peter Navarro’s Escalating Attacks: How Trump’s Trade Advisor is Leading the US Charge Against India Over Russian Oil
In a fiery escalation of trade tensions, White House senior trade advisor Peter Navarro has unleashed a barrage of criticism against India, accusing it of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine and “getting in bed with authoritarians” like Moscow and Beijing. Navarro’s provocative remarks—calling the conflict “Modi’s War” and labeling India’s oil purchases from Russia as “arrogant” and unnecessary—come amid the rollout of crippling 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, effective this week. As President Donald Trump’s protectionist agenda targets a key ally, the rhetoric risks fracturing the U.S.-India strategic partnership, pushing New Delhi deeper into Russia’s orbit and sparking backlash over perceived hypocrisy, especially toward China.
Navarro’s Tirade: “Modi’s War” and Accusations of Profiteering
Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist and staunch Trump loyalist known for his role in the U.S.-China trade war, has been the point man in this anti-India campaign. In a Bloomberg TV interview on August 27, just hours after the tariffs took effect, Navarro doubled down: “Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing… And then the taxpayers lose because we’ve got to fund Modi’s war.” When the host clarified, “You mean Putin’s war?” Navarro shot back: “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”
He accused India of arrogance, saying, “It bothers me that Indians behave so arrogantly. They say: ‘This is our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want.’ India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world, okay, act like one.” Navarro further claimed India is “getting in bed with authoritarians,” referencing China’s 1962 invasion of Aksai Chin and Russia’s war machine: “China invaded Aksai Chin and all your territory. They are not your friends. And Russia? Come on!”
Earlier, in a Financial Times op-ed on August 18, Navarro described India’s Russian oil imports as “opportunistic” and a “refining profiteering scheme,” turning the country into a “laundromat for the Kremlin.” He argued that pre-2022, India bought less than 1% of its oil from Russia; now, it’s 35-40%, with refiners like those owned by Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani processing discounted crude and exporting refined products for profit, funneling dollars to Moscow. “India doesn’t need the oil… It’s a lifeline for Putin’s war,” Navarro wrote, urging New Delhi to “start acting like [a] strategic partner of the US.”
Navarro also tied this to broader trade imbalances: The U.S. runs a $50 billion annual deficit with India due to “Maharaja tariffs” and non-tariff barriers, hurting American workers. He warned of India’s military ties to Russia (36% of arms imports) and demands for U.S. tech transfers, risking leaks to adversaries.
The Tariffs: A 50% Hammer Tied to Russian Oil
The verbal assaults back a punitive policy: On August 27, Trump’s executive order imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports for Russian oil purchases, on top of a baseline 25% reciprocal tariff, totaling 50%—among the highest rates on any U.S. partner. Targets include textiles, gems, jewelry, auto parts, and seafood, potentially costing India’s economy billions and millions of jobs, though pharmaceuticals and electronics are exempt.
Navarro dangled a carrot: India could slash the penalty to 25% “tomorrow” by halting Russian oil buys. But India refuses, with its External Affairs Ministry calling the tariffs “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” noting U.S. hypocrisy—Washington imports $3.5 billion in Russian goods annually, and China (the top buyer) faces no such penalties. “The very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” the ministry stated.
India’s oil imports from Russia ensure affordable energy for 1.4 billion people, rising post-2022 as Europe diverted supplies. PM Narendra Modi has vowed tax cuts to mitigate impacts, but ongoing U.S.-India trade talks are stalled.
Backlash: Hypocrisy, Sovereignty, and Fractured Ties
Navarro’s comments have drawn sharp rebukes. Author Navroop Singh blasted him on X: “By attacking PM Modi directly… Peter Navarro just sunk whatever chance was there for a trade deal. Trump’s White House has gone senile… We are a sovereign nation not your treaty ally.” Singh added India doesn’t need a “U.S. security umbrella” against China, citing its nuclear triad and recent Ladakh détente.
On X, Indians mocked Navarro’s Jinnah-like appearance and questioned U.S. double standards: “Trump likes Putin but blames India… It’s personal.” Media like NDTV called his insults “desperate,” while Business Today warned of derailed deals.
Experts like Milan Vaishnav of Carnegie see it as the “most serious rupture in decades,” eroding Quad trust against China. India’s $68.7 billion trade with Russia in FY2025 underscores deepening ties, with BRICS coordination and potential RIC revival. Goldman Sachs predicts GDP growth below 6% if tariffs persist.
| Navarro’s Key Claims | India’s Rebuttal |
|---|---|
| India funds “Modi’s War” via Russian oil buys | Tariffs hypocritical; U.S. trades with Russia too |
| “Arrogant” sovereignty; doesn’t need Russian oil | Essential for affordable energy; pre-2022 shift due to global markets |
| “Getting in bed with authoritarians” (Russia/China) | Strategic autonomy; handles China independently |
| 50% tariffs to protect U.S. workers | Will safeguard interests; seeks best oil deals |
Broader Implications: Trump’s Russia Pivot and Global Realignment
This “war” contrasts Trump’s Putin overtures—a recent Anchorage summit and Ukraine ceasefire push—while pressuring India via secondary tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “profiteering,” but sparing China baffles analysts.
For Trump, it’s midterm leverage and trade balancing, but it risks alienating India amid China threats. As Navarro’s barbs continue, U.S.-India ties—once “win-win”—hang by a thread, with Modi defiant and exporters pivoting to alternatives like Turkey.
Sources: BBC, Business Today, CNBC, Hindustan Times, The Tribune, Wikipedia, and various news outlets.