Peter Navarro dubs Ukraine conflict as 'Modi's War'

New Delhi: The US stepped up pressure on India Thursday, with President Donald Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro again accusing New Delhi of fuelling Moscow's war machine through Russian oil purchases and branding the Ukraine conflict "Modi's war".

India has chosen to bear the additional 25% tariff on exports to the US rather than buckle under Washington's pressure and halt Russian oil imports. The US has singled out India for this penalty, while leaving others free to continue buying Russian oil.

"India will get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil," Navarro said in a TV interview. He, however, also stressed the need for China and Europe to halt their purchases.


"We've got to stop India and China from buying Russian oil. You do that tomorrow, the war is over... Europe is still buying Russian oil, which is crazy. If people just stop buying Russian oil, then it's only a matter of time before Putin runs out of money to fund that war," he said.

Oil revenues are helping President Vladimir Putin wage war, prompting Ukraine to seek more aid from the US, Navarro argued. "(US) taxpayers lose because we've got to fund Modi's war. The road to peace runs in part through New Delhi," he said.

Navarro also cautioned India against cosying up to China. "Side with the democracies. You're getting in bed with authoritarians," he said, adding: "They are not your friends, folks."

While praising Prime Minister Modi for his leadership, Navarro again criticised India for high tariffs. "Modi is a great leader. This is a mature democracy with intelligent people running it. And they look us bald-faced in the eye on the tariff part and say we don't have the highest tariffs in the world, when in fact they do," he said.

India and the US are engaged in negotiations over a trade deal, which has been delayed by Washington's contentious demands. India views the US demand to halt Russian oil imports as merely a bargaining tool in the talks.