Tue Sep 02 05:59:46 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
This news article from The Hindu reports on comments made by White House trade advisor Peter Navarro criticizing the display of unity between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Navarro expressed concern over Modi’s alignment with Russia and China, urging him to align with the U.S., Europe, and Ukraine instead. This criticism comes amid strained India-U.S. relations due to President Trump’s tariff policy and disapproval of India’s purchase of Russian oil, which has led to significant tariffs imposed on India. India defends its oil purchases as driven by national interest and market dynamics.
**News Article:**
**White House Advisor Slams Modi for ‘Show of Unity’ with Russia and China**
**New York/Washington -** White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has voiced strong disapproval of the recent show of unity between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
“It’s troublesome,” Navarro stated on Monday, September 1st, 2025. “It was a shame to see Mr. Modi getting in bed as the leader of the biggest democracy in the world with the two biggest authoritarian dictators in the world, Putin and Xi Jinping. That doesn’t make any sense.”
Navarro urged Modi to realign India’s foreign policy, stating, “We hope that the Indian leader comes around to seeing that he needs to be with us and Europe and Ukraine and not with Russia on this and he needs to stop buying the oil.”
These remarks come amid a strained period in India-U.S. relations, exacerbated by President Trump’s tariff policies and criticism of India’s economic practices. The U.S. has imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on India, plus an additional 25% levy for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, resulting in a total duty of 50%.
India has defended its purchase of Russian crude oil, emphasizing that its energy procurement decisions are driven by national interest and market dynamics. Since the West imposed sanctions on Russian oil after the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has become India’s top energy supplier. India has labeled the U.S. tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable”.
The ongoing friction highlights the complex geopolitical landscape and the delicate balance India is navigating as it seeks to secure its national interests amid shifting global alliances.
First Piper 