Navarro continued his attacks by invoking India’s complex social structure. “You’ve got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people,” he said, urging Indian citizens to recognise and oppose what he described as elite exploitation in the name of geopolitics.
His remarks sit squarely within a broader U. S.–India diplomatic and trade crisis that has unfolded over the past weeks. The Trump administration has imposed sweeping tariffs on Indian exports—first 25 per cent, then an additional 25 per cent penalty tied to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil—bringing the total tariff to a staggering 50 per cent. India has denounced these measures as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” asserting its right to strategic autonomy and its need to secure energy supplies.
At the SCO summit, Modi’s meeting with Putin and Xi projected a clear message of alignment among non-Western powers. Symbolic overtures and affirmations of cooperation appeared to contrast starkly with Washington’s pressure campaign, reinforcing India’s commitment to a multipolar global order.
Analysts suggest that Modi’s posture reflects a delicate balancing act: resisting Western pressure while reaffirming strategic autonomy. Observers note that despite warmer ties with Moscow and Beijing, long-standing border disputes with China and shared concerns about the regional balance make wholesale realignment unlikely.
Within U. S. circles, Navarro’s rhetoric is echoed by other officials. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in a separate comment, dismissed the SCO summit as largely “performative,” terming both India and China as “bad actors” on account of their economic engagements with Russia—itself a central concern amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Navarro’s continuous barrage—spanning accusations that India is a “laundromat for the Kremlin,” that the Ukraine conflict is “Modi’s war,” and now invoking caste to frame his critique—has drawn widespread condemnation. Indian commentators have labelled his remarks “inflammatory,” “sinister” and reflective of declining diplomatic decorum. Meanwhile, the U. S. State Department has sought to temper the fallout, reiterating that the partnership with India remains “a defining relationship of the 21st century”.
As tensions mount, New Delhi continues to deepen its strategic cooperation with Moscow. Modi and Putin reaffirmed their “time-tested partnership” during bilateral talks, discussing expanded trade, energy collaboration, and preparations for Putin’s anticipated visit to India in December. The personal warmth between the leaders, underscored by shared car rides and extended conversation, underscored the strength of their diplomatic chemistry.
Amid this friction, India stands at a crossroads. Washington’s retaliation over energy choices and geopolitical positioning clashes with New Delhi’s pursuit of economic pragmatism and strategic independence. The clash between an administration pursuing "America First" trade policies and a sovereign power advocating multipolar engagement underscores the complexities of global realignment—none more so than at this year’s SCO summit.