Edward Price, a former British official and political economist, has sharply criticized White House Senior Advisor Peter Navarro’s recent remarks on India, branding them a “shame” and an insult to diplomacy.

In an interview with IANS, Price said Navarro’s attempt to “instruct” India over its foreign policy choices reflects a lack of understanding. “India has always gone its own way, culturally, politically, and otherwise. It is a unique country with a unique statecraft. We shouldn’t be telling India what to do—we should be making it a fair and friendly offer,” he noted.

Navarro, on Monday, accused India of aligning with Russia and China following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. He declared that “India needs to be with us, not Russia.”

Price, now an Adjunct Instructor at New York University, argued that the White House suffers from a lack of policy coherence. “There is no coherence in the White House. Wherever there are glimpses of an American grand strategy—like reducing trade exposure to China—Trump undercuts it with contradictions,” he observed.

Rejecting the view that India is drifting toward Russia and China, Price described India’s diplomacy as “smart” and flexible. “India reminds the Americans it has options and will soon be a Great Power. Washington D.C. is not the only story,” he said.

US President Donald Trump recently called ties with India “one-sided,” a stance Price labeled “ill-judged and ill-timed.” He added, “The US cannot expect to insult India with tariffs and then demand loyalty. India will do India, which is smart. Trump will do Trump, which isn’t.”