The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China has triggered sharp criticism from the White House, as US Trade Adviser Peter Navarro launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Speaking to reporters, Navarro accused Modi of aligning with authoritarian regimes, saying, “It was a shame to see Modi getting in bed as a 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. We hope he comes around to seeing that he needs to be with us, Europe and Ukraine, not Russia.”

Navarro urged India to cut back on purchases of discounted Russian crude, stressing that New Delhi should strengthen ties with the US and Europe instead. He further alleged that profiteering elites were benefiting from India’s policies at the expense of ordinary citizens. “So, you know, look, Modi’s a great leader… But I don’t understand why he’s getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping… when he’s the leader of the biggest democracy in the world. I would just simply say to the Indian people, please, understand what’s going on here. You’ve got Brahmins profiteering at the expense of the Indian people. We need that to stop,” Navarro said.

The remarks come amid growing trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi, with the US imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods and a separate 25 per cent penalty on Russian oil imports.

At the SCO summit, however, PM Modi highlighted India’s focus on connectivity and cooperation. “India has always believed that strong connectivity not only boosts trade but also opens doors to growth and trust,” he said in his address.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, pitched the SCO as a platform to build a “new Eurasian security system” beyond Eurocentric models, stressing that the bloc is expanding trade settlements in national currencies. Chinese President Xi Jinping also called on SCO nations to uphold “fairness and justice” in global affairs.