Former Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup has issued a sharp rebuttal to White House trade advisor Peter Navarro‘s recent “tirade” against India. Navarro has been highly critical of India, calling it the “maharaja of tariffs” and accusing it of funding Russia’s war machine by purchasing discounted crude oil.
India’s Stance and Trade Relations
Swarup, who previously served as the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, stated that India is a “proud nation” that operates on the principle of “strategic autonomy” and will “not be dictated by anyone.” While he acknowledged the close personal relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, he expressed disappointment that a trade deal between the two nations has not yet been finalized.
Swarup called the current U.S.-India relationship “not in good shape” and said that “US officials are trying to put all kinds of pressure on India.” He stressed that while he remains hopeful for a mutually acceptable solution, Navarro’s public comments are “not helping the cause.”
Navarro’s Allegations
Navarro has been the key driver behind the Trump administration’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports. He has justified the move by claiming that India’s trade practices are unfair and that its purchases of Russian oil are being used to “finance Russia’s war machine.” He accused Indian refiners of using U.S. dollars to buy Russian crude and then “flipping the black-market oil for big profits.”
In a post on X, Navarro stated that the tariffs are meant to “cut off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putin’s war machine.” He has also controversially referred to the conflict as “Modi’s war,” a statement that has been widely condemned.
