The most arrogant administration in history accuses India of arrogance over Russian oil imports. 
“Modi’s War”
The BBC reports Trump adviser calls Ukraine conflict ‘Modi’s war’ as US tariffs on India rise
A White House official has described Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine as Indian Prime Minister Narendra “Modi’s war”, stepping up pressure on Delhi to stop buying oil from Moscow.
US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro’s comments came hours after US tariffs of 50% on Indian goods kicked in on Wednesday.
The tariffs, among the highest in the world, include a 25% penalty for purchase of weapons and oil from Russia which, the US claims, is a key source of funds for its war in Ukraine.
Russia, which supplied less than 2% of India’s crude before it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, now accounts for 35-40% of Delhi’s oil imports, making it the largest source.
But India has pointed out that the US has not imposed similar additional tariffs on China, which is the largest importer of Russian oil, or the European Union, which still conducts a huge amount of trade with Russia.
Navarro’s iteration of the US position came in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
“Everybody in America loses because of what India is doing. The consumers and businesses and everything lose, and workers lose because India’s high tariffs cost us jobs, factories and income and higher wages. And then the taxpayers lose because we got to fund Modi’s war,” he was quoted saying.
When asked if he actually meant “Putin’s war” instead, Mr Navarro said: “I mean Modi’s war, because the road to peace runs, in part, through New Delhi.”
Navarro then went on to add: “What’s troubling to me is that the Indians are so arrogant about this. They say, ‘Oh, we don’t have higher tariffs. Oh, it’s our sovereignty. We can buy oil from anyone we want.’ India, you’re the biggest democracy in the world, okay, act like one.”
Bullies Pick on the Weak
“It’s real easy, that India can get 25% off tomorrow if it stops buying Russian oil and helping to feed (Russia’s) war machine,” Navarro told Bloomberg Television.
What’s troubling to me is assh*les telling other nations who they can or cannot conduct business with, then accuse them of arrogance when they don’t obey arrogant commands.
China and the EU keep buying Russian oil, especially the former.
And Trump promised on numerous occasions that Russia would have “severe consequences” if it did not agree to a deal.
Instead, this is now “Modi’s war” in the administration’s biggest shift of irresponsible denial and lies regarding Russia.
An American Own-Goal
I wrote the above before reading similar comments from Eurointelligence on An American Own-Goal
The guiding principle of the Trump administration’s foreign policy now, after its aborted trade war with China, seems to come straight from Thucydides. During the ancient Athenian siege of Melos, he famously recorded the Athenians’ justification for the siege: the strong take what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. Hence him raising tariffs on India to 50% for buying Russian oil, whilst the same tariffs on China are conspicuously absent.
However, there is little reason to think that India will stop buying Russian oil, at least immediately. The reason why the country went from buying next to no Russian crude to being its second-largest customer almost overnight after the war in Ukraine began is simple: the price. What sometimes happens when sanctions, by any name, come out against Russia’s oil industry is that it drives the price of Russian crude lower relative to crude from other countries. This makes it more attractive to the buyers, paradoxically.
The bigger ramifications might be geopolitical, because the world isn’t evenly divided into strong and weak countries. Many can pick and choose who their allies and partners are, and India has other options. For a long time, US policy towards India has revolved around coopting it as an ally against China.
Now Trump’s own efforts threaten to undo this in one fell swoop. When Trump first threatened his tariffs back in March, the Chinese government was already making overtures towards India. Now, it wouldn’t be surprising if India sought to diversify its own trading relationships. This might prove to be the most self-defeating foreign policy move the US has made. It’s plausible that it won’t achieve its intended goal, to stop India from buying Russian oil, and it could push India towards China instead.
Attacks on the Weak
Notice how Trump attacks the weak. After repeatedly threatening Russia with severe consequences, Trump did nothing.
- March 7: Trump Threatens Russia With Strong Sanctions in Effort to Reach Peace Deal
- March 30: Trump Says He Is “Very Angry, Pissed Off” at Putin
- May 26: Trump Threatens Sanctions, Asks “What the Hell Happened to Putin?”
- July 14: Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Russia Over Ukraine, So What?
Severe Consequences? When?
We have severe consequences, on India. What about the oil and natural gas China buys from Russia?
Please recall my April 21 post China Halts US Liquid Natural Gas Imports, Turns to Russia Instead
What did Trump do besides nothing?
On April 12, I commented Trump Backs Down More on Tariffs Exempts Smartphones, Electronics from China
On May 12, I noted US and China Slash Tariffs for 90 Days with More Planned Talks
China responded to Trump’s tariffs by halting rare earth exports. That’s why Trump backed down.
Chalk up a Two-TACO Trump Day on His Call to Xi Over Rare Earth Elements
Meanwhile, in Canada
Please note Canada Adds 70 Percent More Port Capacity to China to Escape Trump’s Tariffs
Credit Trump for pushing Canada closer to China.
And today, please note that Trump is pushing India closer to Russia and China.
Best of all, US consumers and businesses have to pay more for goods.
Is Trump great or what?
I was struggling to understand USA’s India policy until Prof John Mearsheimer explained it: Trump wants to avoid taking blame for the failed Ukraine War. By throwing 50% tariffs on India he can claim he did “something” to help Ukraine so he can shake his stubby finger at everyone else for a soon-to-be-lost war.
Of course, nobody but the the most demented Fox News audience will believe this nonsense. Doesn’t stop Trump from trying.
The US feed the Ukrainian genocidal war machine not by buying Ukrainian wares but by sending weapons and munitions. It’s quite rich to accuse India when the Usonian fingers drip with blood. And I’m not even considering the US backed Palestinian genocide by Israel.
Trump is mentally ill, that’s his only excuse other wise he’s America’s Hitler.
Saying the war is Modi’s fault for selling Russian oil is an insult to my name.
Sincerely,
Non-sequitur
TACO????
The Trans Mountain started in 1953. The expansion planning started in 2013, well before Trump. Countries always trade with other countries, even if they are enemies. It will cost more to export to the US, unless they produce it here and create jobs. Both importers and exporters will absorb most of the cost. Tariffs are imposed on nonessential goods that we buy every few months or years. Modi, 50% in India to make up his mind. He got it. 39% on Switzerland until Keller Sutter is sacked. She is a lousy- arrogant-frosty negotiator. Instead of 10% as with UK, or 15% as with the EU, with extensions. she got an upper cut. It’s all about jobs and gov revenue.
Yep. And all the oil sent through Trans Mountain was used in BC or the US.
The TMX expansion was meant to increase supply in order to meet increasing demand in BC and to allow some exports to Asia as well as the US.
However, because of Trump’s trade war, Canada is beginning to reduce oil exports to the US and increase exports to Asia. And they are looking at additional pipelines or pipeline expansions to sell even more to Asia.
In addition, Canada’s first LNG terminal is now exporting natural gas to Asia. And they plan on building several more LNG facilities.
They are looking to increase trade with others, since the US is such an unreliable trading partner.
Too many barking dogs on this blog. They bark at everybody who isn’t them !
They called him TACO but he turned out FAFO.
Take Action Change the Outcome: TACO.
We can find a safe space for Michael’s battered self. Wo’s with me?
eat your dog food !
The reddit conservative forum doesn’t allow anything negative to be said about Dear Leader, I think Michael would be very happy there.
It makes me sad seeing his boo boo face around here.
Keller Sutter saved Credit Swiss. She rosed to the top. After thousands of hour of
negotiations about tariffs Keller Sutter talk to Trump. She cut him several times. She
gave him a lecture about economy and told him that he is wrong. She bullied and patronized him. Trump hanged up on this arrogant frosty women. He imposed 39% tariffs on Switzerland. She will be sacked soon.
No pharma and Swiss chocolate for the obese.
Ever since the USSR dissolved and our oligarchs no longer felt it necessary to throw the serfs a bone, Natostan is increasingly the land of “fuck you, pay me”. Don’t kid yourself that this is “new” with Trump. Yes, it’s worse and much much more obvious because the man and his team say aloud what the others said in private and because decades of prior regime decisions created the circumstances where they believe it’s now best to aggressively shake down their hostage-allies.
Voting changes nothing because the candidates and media are bought. Instead, you gotta with your feet.
Got college-age kids? Tell them to study in a BRICS country.
Retired? Slash your bills by moving to a BRICS country.
Ask DeepSeek for options.
Vote with your feet.
With the exception of the MAGA and Trumps Silo of sycophants, the world is quickly turning away from Trump and his bullying.
China, Indonesia, Viet Nam, India, Brazil, Canada, Greenland, the entire EU, Switzerland and a host of others have all been bullied and are turning away from their long term allegiance and curation of relationships with the US. All because of Trump and his arrogant bullying.
Trump is the worst negotiator in the history of the US, and Trump is being called out as a paper tiger, a bully and liar by China, Russia and India.
I personally would never do business with a known felon who is proud of being a pederast and rapist. I would never do business with a convicted felon or businessman that bankrupted six companies and has bullied contractors repeatedly with non-payment for the services and materials provided in good faith.
Even a few Republicans are turning away from him. I personally know a few former die-hard Trump fans that are now distancing themselves from their former support. Of course their are die-hards that can not admit they made a bad choice!
25th Amendment time is overdue!
>
You lost me at rapist.. He was convicted of rape? Didn’t ABC get sued for that statement?
Instead of just emotionally being critical of everything, come up with some solutions to make things better. Thats all liberals do now. 24/7 protesting and complaining and then wild accusations.
The above poster says get your kids educated in a Brics country. Why is that? You liberals have controlled our universities for 60 years. Oh, now your not happy the crap we turn out?
I don’t agree with a lot of what Trump says. I used to think when it was twitter that a democratic operative hijacked his feed because he wouldn’t be stupid enough to say some of those things.
But the alternative now is you clowns.
You created Trump you are just to arrogant to admit or even understand that.
Stop complaining and create & offer some solutions like Mr Shedlock does.
You complain about national guard taking over DC right? Meanwhile all the residents, 99% black are happy, hell even the Mayor came out and said this is positive
He ought to do it in Baltimore & Newark & St. Louis. You know all the cities you liberals have run for 60 years now and screwed up.
25 Amendment. You didn’t want it for Biden but you want it for Trump. Thats all I need to know.
JD Vance is going to be our next president.
Are you leaving for a Brics country too?
Spot on David, all the way to Vance! TDS is real, and and I didn’t think so at first, but they have proved it beyond any shadow of any doubt!!!
Nobody gets sued for rape accusations, because the lawsuit would involve discovery, and that would involve the Epstein files.
So let me reiterate: DONALD TRUMP RAPED CHILDREN.
See? Nothing happened.
David, the “Hide” option below posts that Mish added work really well. I read this blog because of the quality of the posts and most of the comments. Any politically unhinged poster gets the Hide treatment. You can be Frosty-free like me! 🙂
* shouts in echo chamber” * See? Everyone agrees with me!
Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll, by forcing her against a wall and shoving his fingers inside her against her will. If the distinction of criminal rape vs. being legally liable makes you feel OK about this, I worry for all the women in your life. TDS is indeed real- imagine making excuses for a man who abuses women like this!
You can try to write me off as being biased but I actually support these punitive tariffs against India. But it should be the Congress enacting them, not the rapist-in-chief.
Why did she waits long. Did she file a police report when it happened? I am not a trump fan but that bitch is lying.
I just imagine someone saying that about my wife. You imagine someone saying it about you. That’s the difference between us.
I told my wife how cool it’d be if we had a couple national guardsmen posted at the end of our driveway.
– The world is quickly turning away from Trump and his bullying. > I don’t see it that way at all. While I admit that Trump is not the best speaker, as far as His use of words go, but He is not being a bully. Many may assume or believe that due to TDS, as we have been foolishly witnessing for nearly a decade. He is fighting for Peace!
– China, Indonesia, Viet Nam, India, Brazil, Canada, Greenland, the entire EU, Switzerland and a host of others have all been bullied and are turning away from their long term allegiance and curation of relationships with the US. All because of Trump and his arrogant bullying. > I see our adversaries, like China and others mentioned, believing this because they want to, as He is the enemy! Others realize a path to Peace involves ALL Parties that desire that Peace!!!
– Trump is the worst negotiator in the history of the US, and Trump is being called out as a paper tiger. > Now that I stopped laughing, and cleared my eyes so I can see again, I must say you are delusional, if you think that Trump is a “Paper Tiger” OR You have not a clue what that stands for, and means. I will assume the latter, because you seem brighter than that to me…
“Trump is not being a bully”!
Hahahahahhahahahaha!
Thanks for that laugh. I needed it.
One example out of thousands. Trump’s reciprocal tariff list targets every country in the world, except Russia and N Korea.
Pot calling the kettle black. TACO is pretty damn arrogant.
If there is a circus you will see the GUESS
Ukraine is steadily applying ”sanctions” against Russian oil, no problem. 20% off-line already. Winter will be interesting.
By the end of Sept the E3 will reinstate Snapback on Iran.
3 jokers.
They are bankrupt.
Fake parade: on Sept 3 China will celebrate the end of WWII in Peking with a military parade. Putin and fatso Kim Jong Un will attend. Japan will not. Modi who will be in China will not attend. Japan occupied Port Arthur between 1905 and 1945. Chiang Kai Check fought the Japs. Mao and his communist comrades hid in the caves. An armada of Russian and Chinese subs drill took place. Modi and Iran didn’t attend.
Russia fought on both sides so they should attend twice!
There is no way that these tariffs will not contribute to significant increases in inflation.
When the De Minimis exception ends tomorrow (8/29) a LOT of products shipped from overseas are going to cost more and that WILL impact inflation.
Further, people are going to be surprised when they are assessed a duty charge to a product they ordered that may be a large amount of money. And they may not be able to get a refund if they can’t or choose not to pay the duty fee that the package deliverer will need to collect.
Almost no one is talking about this!
NYT has an article.
Excellent! So if we simply can’t stop buying junk for Pennie’s on the dollar, then we will have to buy junk for .10 on the dollar (or whatever, as we shouldn’t be buying the crap to begin with IMO).
Maybe this will awaken people to the idea, possibly, that we don’t need this crap, and shouldn’t be buying it anyway! From Anywhere OR Anyone…
Spot on!
The media gets a lot more attention when theres a child raping dementia case in the White House, burning the constitutin. They are complicit.
It would be so nice not to hear from the stooges for a while.They should take a month long vacation so we can all live a life without all the noise about nothing.
Not only are China and EU buying oil from Russia, BUT the US is ALSO buying uranium from them. Hypocrisy writ large.
The trade bullying by the US has inflicted tremendous costs on economic participants worldwide, and all for nothing. The Ukraine war ends when the US taxpayer (who has no say in the matter) finally is permitted to stop paying for it. Either that or Ukraine runs out of conscripts.
Yup…it’s all starting to fall apart from what I’m seeing in the market. I’ve liquidated a bunch of positions this week with this little rally. Building a huge cash position for September and October, it’s going to be a wild ride. Ironically, the best trade right now is collars around gold and bitcoin.
From what I understand soybean and corn harvests will be huge and there are no buyers because of tariffs. You reap what you sow suckers.
Trump is just another one – like the neocons (Graham) and neolibs (McFaul) – who think the US can bend the entire world to our will. They never take an honest appraisal of our opponents’ strengths and point of view. India-U.S. trade is dwarfed in importance by India’s agricultural sector which benefits immensely from cheap Russian energy. Of course Modi will choose Russian oil over reduced tariffs on their lousy $87B of annual exports to the U.S. Trump is reduced to issuing lame insults because Modi won’t even take Trump’s phone calls. Good for Modi.
If the world, in total, stopped buying Russian energy, global energy prices would increase significantly. Might cause inflation. Might even cause a global recession.
Might cause people to think twice about that 4th trip to Costco this week.
Trump is great at destroying US relations with our former friends, allies and trading partners by attempting to control what they are allowed to do. The long term effects will be poorer relations and less trade between the US and the rest of the world. And more trade between everyone else.
It is a long term process, but it has been set in motion.
Some examples:
Canada is now selling oil and LNG to Asian countries after decades of selling exclusively to the US. And they are looking for ways to sell to Europe. And signing all kinds of trade deals with numerous countries.
Japan, South Korea and China have established trilateral cooperation to offset US tariffs.
Europe signed a long term trade agreement with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
UK signed a comprehensive agreement with India.
And many more. Everyone is looking for alternatives to the US.
China switched from buying soy from the US to from Brazil, besides buying more coffee from Brazil.
Most of the tariffed countries will find new markets. The US will be mostly unable to find new suppliers.
India is a major contributor to the Russian war machine, even brokering Russian oil to make a profit. Just because China also buys Russian oil does not take away from Indian duplicity. China and the USA have become geopolitical rivals. India was neutral and leaning to the USA against China.
Trump should clamp down on the fraudulent H1-B and L-1 visa programs. The tech firms collude with recruiting firms to hide jobs reserved for international (mostly Indian) workers. This fraudulent practice has been going on for decades. The law and practices should change so that USA tech workers can compete. The discount for OPT workers should end also. These changes would be just as effective as the tariffs.
Hahahaha!
The US still buys a lot from Russia. Fertilizer, chemicals, precious metals, wood products, charcoal, aluminum, uranium, machinery, pharmaceuticals etc.
Why haven’t WE stopped supporting Russia by ending these purchases? And where are Trump’s severe repercussions for Russia?
And yes. India WAS leaning our way. But now Trump is pushing them towards China.
F*cking moron.
Interesting Papa Dave, exactly what Rex Tillerson called Trump just before leaving as Secretary of State during Trump’s first term.
Well Trump is President now and Tillerman is playing around with the Boy Scouts.
Shhhh. Trump will put secondary tariffs on us. We have no severe repercussions. Trump has no cards. Russia will just keep grinding on. It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
Yes. And meanwhile, Exxon and other US companies are already quietly negotiating with Russia (with Trump’s approval) to help further develop Russian oil and gas resources. Russia would like to purchase US LNG tech. And the US would like to purchase Russian made nuclear powered icebreakers.
So much for severe sanctions on Russia.
This is one of the reasons that Trump wants to play nice with Putin and is desperately trying to find a way to cut off Zelensky that won’t have Ukraines supporters in Congress up in arms.
Yep. Trump will screw Ukraine and give in to Putin. And morons like M M don’t have a clue as it happens right in front of them.
Foul mouth response. The USA still buys some key minerals from Russia, but the USA does not prop up the Russian economy much. India buys 35% to 40% of its oil from Russia and then resells some for a profit. India has been a major force to prop up the Russian economy. India’s purchases of Russian oil has sharply increased since the Russia-Ukraine war started. Do you know that India only purchased 3% of its oil from Russia before war? There are some reports that India will reduce its Russian oil purchases so the tariffs may encourage some changes.
Is your brain capable of reasoned responses or just foul-mouthed gut reactions?
Yep. After Russia invaded Ukraine, western sanctions on Russia were designed to reduce the price of Russian oil, not stop the flow. Because stopping the flow would raise oil prices dramatically. And the US didn’t want that. In fact Trump wants low oil prices. He says it over and over. But you can’t have low oil prices if the flow of Russian oil is stopped.
That cheap Russian oil has to go somewhere. And someone is going to buy it and take advantage of the low price. The question is who will take advantage? Who needs that much oil? China, India, Europe, US.
Take your pick.
F*cking moron.
Another foul-mouthed ignorant response. Are you capable of reasoned response in opposition to your bias? You did not respond to my assertion that India has been a large bank for Russia’s war of aggression.
Russia is the evil aggressor in its brutal war of conquest. Another Biden bungled badly, he or anyone else did not cause the war. The evil Putin and his henchmen are solely responsible for millions of deaths, injuries, and destruction.
Of course Trump wants low energy prices subject to market forces. Energy is the life blood of economies. Unlike Democrats who have artificially increased energy prices (see CA, WA, NJ, NY, and soon CO), Trump realizes that competitive energy prices drive economies.
The USA and Europe have tried to move away from dependence on Russia. India has done just the opposite. Trump wants peace, even pushing Ukraine to give up land for peace. India is an obstacle to peace. The market situation with Russian oil is complicated, but India has enabled the war effort with Russia, even profiteering.
I am not a proponent of tariffs. If there is a case for tariffs, India is a good target for its war profiteering.
You didn’t answer my question. Dumb f*ck.
Carrot and Stick PapaDave. India has the Stick now because they are financing Russia killing Europeans which is something we don’t like. Russia if they stop can have the Carrot.
The US is still buying goods from Russia. As is Europe. And China. When they all stop buying from Russia, then you can tell India to stop buying Russian oil.
If you want moral consistency in all things then maybe you should live in a monastery. International relations are messy but since you are an opportunist I rather doubt your moral feathers are ruffled so drop the pretenses. Just say you don’t like what Trump is doing and leave it at that. Trump wants Modi to chose one way or the other.
I’m not the one worried about morals. That would be you.
I’m not the one complaining about India buying Russian oil. That would be you.
I am merely pointing out that YOU are the one turning a blind eye to the US, Europe and China continuing to buy goods from Russia. Yet you want India to stop.
Lol!
Dumb f*ck.
Europe still buys a lot from Russia. Why didn’t Trump slap a 50% tariff on them?
Because they are moving in the right direction buy eliminating Russian energy by a near date. India did the opposite.
“India is a major contributor to the Russian war machine”
Ukraine is not Modi’s war. It is the West’s/NATO’s folly. They built Ukraine up over a period of years after the Maidan coup to attack Russia and it was all for nought. Their proxy war is lost. It’s all over but the crying.
Just because Russia was slow to saddle and is now quick to ride doesn’t mean they’re some war machine hellbent on world domination. The West has f*cked around long enough, and now they’re in the finding out phase of FAFO courtesy of the Russian bear. Russia agreed to a peace deal in Istanbul in April/May 2022 but that blonde homeless-hair’ed British retard with bad teeth (Boris) was sent by the West to convince Ukraine not to take the deal. And around that time that dumb broad Angela Merkel, who sold her country out to TPTB and allowed millions of illegals to enter Deutschlande, admitted that Minsk 1 and 2 (2014-2015 timeframe) were delaying actions designed to give Ukraine time to build up its military to confront Russia. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
Russia under Putin is evil in its war of aggression. Russia is a grave threat to world peace with ugly threats and slaughter of neighboring countries. Putin wants to recreate the evil USSR. Putin must be opposed to stop this evil.
Lol! That’s hilarious! Since Trump wants to help Putin achieve those goals.
Cooooopium,
I can smell the copium,
Hey, it is OK
We don’t always get our way,
But ease up on that copium
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jKQMPTnrQ04&pp=ygULY29waXVtIHNvbmc%3D
It’s good, but it could benefit from a female harmony…oh and maybe a David Gilmour-esque solo in D-major.
Now ain’t that “Calling the kettle black” (India being arrogant)! 😜