Subhechcha Ganguly 
Former Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup has strongly countered White House trade advisor Peter Navarro’s recent criticism of India over trade and energy ties, asserting that New Delhi will not be “dictated” by external pressure.
Navarro, a key architect of former US President Donald Trump’s protectionist trade policies, has in recent days described India as the “maharaja of tariffs” and accused the country of acting as a “laundromat for the Kremlin” through its Russian oil purchases. He has also defended Trump’s decision to impose a steep 50% tariff on Indian imports, claiming it would block financial support allegedly funneled to Moscow.
“President Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports are now in effect. This isn’t just about India’s unfair trade—it’s about cutting off the financial lifeline India has extended to Putin’s war machine,” Navarro wrote in a post on X, accusing Indian refiners of flipping discounted Russian crude for global profits while fueling Russia’s war chest.
Responding to the remarks, Swarup said US officials were trying to exert “all kinds of pressure” on New Delhi but underlined that India has always followed the principle of strategic autonomy.
“India is a very proud nation. We will not be dictated by anyone,” Swarup told ANI, stressing that despite personal warmth between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump, a comprehensive trade deal had not materialized.
While expressing hope that both sides could still find “a mutually acceptable solution,” Swarup warned that Navarro’s sharp comments were “not helping the cause” of bilateral ties.
India has previously described Trump-era tariffs as “unjustified,” maintaining that its trade and energy policies are guided by national interest.
