Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro has criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for aligning with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin. Calling the show of unity “troublesome,” Navarro said India should stand with the West, not authoritarian regimes.
“It was a shame to see Modi getting in bed as the leader of the biggest democracy in the world with the two biggest authoritarian dictators,” Navarro said at a White House briefing. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
His comments come amid tensions in US-India relations, worsened by high tariffs and India’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. The Trump administration had imposed up to 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, citing trade imbalances and Delhi’s growing energy ties with Moscow.
“India didn’t buy much Russian oil before 2022,” Navarro claimed.
“Now, they get discounts, refine it, and resell it at higher prices — it’s profiteering.”
India defends its oil imports as economically necessary, but Navarro argues it indirectly supports Russia’s war in Ukraine. “They use our money to buy Indian goods, and India uses that to buy Russian oil. Russia uses the money to build weapons to kill Ukrainians,” he said.
Navarro also raised concerns about India’s ties with China, a country he says has repeatedly violated India’s sovereignty. “China has taken Indian territory and funds Pakistan’s military. Yet Chinese firms are partnering with Indian businesses — it’s a toxic relationship,” he said.
He accused Beijing of using India to bypass U.S. tariffs, calling India a “transshipment hub” for Chinese goods.
While expressing respect for Modi and India’s people, Navarro urged New Delhi to align more clearly with the West. “The road to peace in Ukraine runs through New Delhi. It’s time for Modi to step up,” he said.
India has dismissed US trade penalties as “unjustified” and says its policies are guided by national interest. However, with global pressure rising, India’s balancing act between global powers is drawing renewed scrutiny.