New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday rejected recent remarks by White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, describing them as “factually incorrect and misleading.”

During an interview with Bloomberg Television last week, Navarro alleged that “India is helping fuel Russia’s war machine. It’s essentially Modi’s war, because the path to peace goes through New Delhi.”

Responding at the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly rejected the claims. “We have seen these inaccurate and misleading comments from Mr. Navarro, and we categorically reject them,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), urged India to ignore controversial remarks made by White House Trade Advisor Peter Navarro and instead focus on strengthening ties with Washington. Responding to Navarro’s “Brahmin profiteering” comment, Aghi said such rhetoric stemmed from ignorance about India and should not distract from the broader momentum in bilateral relations. Navarro had made the casteist remark while defending President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports, criticising India for buying discounted Russian crude oil. Addressing Trump’s claims that India agreed to reduce tariffs to zero, Aghi noted that not all presidential statements or tweets carry weight, with some lacking substance. He stressed that India should act in its best interest, as its people are mature enough to navigate such rhetoric and focus on long-term strategic cooperation with the United States.

Randhir Jaiswal on India-US ties

On India–US ties, Jaiswal highlighted the strength and significance of the partnership. “We have said earlier as well that our relationship with the United States is extremely important. It is built on shared interests, common democratic values, and strong people-to-people connections. This partnership has endured changes and challenges and continues to deepen,” he noted.

Jaiswal stressed that the focus remains on substantive cooperation. “We are committed to advancing the agenda that both our countries have agreed upon, and we look forward to the relationship growing further based on mutual respect and shared priorities,” he said. Pointing to ongoing collaboration, he added, “As you may have seen, a joint military exercise is currently underway in Alaska. Just a few days back, we had a 2+2 inter-sessional meeting. Dialogue between our governments continues across various fronts, and we are committed to strengthening this partnership.”

On trade, the MEA spokesperson underlined that India “remains engaged with the US side to resolve trade-related issues.”

When asked about H-1B visa concerns, Jaiswal emphasised that mobility remains a vital element of the bilateral relationship. “The mobility partnership between India and the United States is central to our cooperation. It supports collaboration in technology, innovation, emerging sectors, finance, and the broader economy,” he explained.

He added that the program benefits both countries: “While it creates opportunities for skilled Indian professionals in the US, it also enhances the competitiveness and productivity of American companies. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement. We continue discussions with Washington on mobility and remain committed to deepening this pillar of the partnership.”