Shame To See PM Modi With Russia's Putin, China's Xi Jinping: Trump's Adviser Peter Navarro

Peter Navarro, trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, criticises India's trade relations with Russia and PM Modi's ties with Putin and Xi Jinping. He highlights high tariffs and the implications of India's oil purchases from Russia.

Peter Navarro, the trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, has once again criticised India's trade relations with Russia. He expressed disapproval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Navarro described this interaction as a "shame," questioning Modi's decision to align with these leaders. "It is a shame to see [PM] Modi getting in bed with Xi Jinping and Putin. I'm not sure what he's thinking. We hope he comes around to seeing that he needs to be with us and not Russia," Navarro told reporters.

US Tariffs and Criticism

Navarro has been vocal about his concerns since President Trump imposed tariffs on India. He frequently criticises New Delhi for its ongoing crude oil trade with Moscow, alleging that the revenue from these purchases funds Putin's war efforts in Ukraine. Despite Trump's previous claims of being able to end the conflict swiftly, it continues unabated.

The White House adviser had earlier claimed India of having some of the highest tariffs among major economies. He labelled India as the "Maharaja of tariffs" and said that New Delhi refuses to acknowledge this issue.

Allegations Against India

Navarro highlighted a "two-prong problem" with India, attributing 25 per cent of the issue to unfair trade practices and another 25 per cent to India's oil purchases from Russia. He insisted that India is in denial about these facts, despite evidence proving otherwise.

He further escalated his criticism by bringing up caste issues, alleging that "Brahmins are profiteering at the expense of ordinary Indians" through discounted Russian oil deals.

Trump's Stance on Tariffs

Meanwhile, President Trump on Monday claimed that India has offered to reduce its tariffs on US goods to zero, suggesting this should have been done years ago. He described the relationship between the two countries as a "one-sided disaster."

The Trump administration has imposed 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods, along with an additional 25 per cent due to India's Russian oil purchases. This brings total duties on India to 50 per cent, making them among the highest globally.

He said, "They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it's getting late. They should have done so years ago," Mr Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the relationship between the two countries has been a "one-sided disaster".