‘Not Modi’s war’: Washington insiders call Delhi a ‘vital partner’

A storm is brewing in Washington after a top White House trade adviser labeled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “Modi’s war,” drawing sharp criticism not only from New Delhi but also from influential voices in the United States.Jewish lobby defends IndiaThe American Jewish Committee (AJC), one of the most prominent advocacy groups in the US, called the remarks “scurrilous” and “deeply troubling.” In a statement, the AJC said it was “mystified” by the chorus of attacks against India.“We regret energy-hungry India’s reliance on Russian oil,” the group noted, “but India isn’t responsible for Putin’s war crimes. It is a sister democracy, an increasingly important US partner, and a vital player in global power competition. It’s time to reset this relationship.” Navarro’s controversial remarkThe backlash follows comments from US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro, who, in an interview with Bloomberg TV, accused New Delhi of fueling Moscow’s war machine. “The taxpayers lose because we got to fund Modi’s war,” Navarro said, doubling down even when pressed if he meant Putin’s war instead.His remarks coincided with the Biden administration’s decision to slap 50% tariffs on Indian exports, including a 25% penalty tied to oil and arms purchases from Russia. India pushes backIndia has called the tariffs “unfair” and vowed not to scale back Russian imports, stressing that securing affordable energy for 1.4 billion people is non-negotiable. Officials have also pointed out the double standards, China and the EU, both far bigger buyers of Russian oil, face no such punitive measures.A path to reconciliation?Despite the tensions, there are signals of a softer approach within the US administration. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent struck a more conciliatory note, saying, “India is the world’s largest democracy; the US is the world’s largest economy. At the end of the day we will come together.”Analysts believe such remarks reflect Washington’s underlying recognition that India remains indispensable in the Indo-Pacific, where its role as a counterweight to China is central to US strategy.