George Soros-linked groups driving ‘anti-India toolkit’ that shapes Trump’s stance on Delhi: Intel sources

FILE PHOTO - US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during 'Namaste Trump Rally' at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, on February 24, 2020. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP)

Amid escalating trade tensions between New Delhi and Washington, Indian intelligence agencies have flagged what they describe as a coordinated “anti-India toolkit” campaign aimed at influencing US President Donald Trump’s inner circle through foreign funding, diaspora lobbying, and strategic media narratives, sources told CNN-News18.

According to the report, organisations linked to billionaire financier George Soros are believed to be backing these efforts, which are aimed at damaging India’s image and weakening its partnerships, especially with the United States.

How the toolkit works

Sources told CNN-News18 that the toolkit operates in a structured manner. Money from foreign donors is first routed through tax havens or foreign direct investment channels to Indian NGOs and consultancy firms. These groups then create issue-specific content that portrays India in a negative light. The content is amplified through international media, diaspora networks, and think tanks, before making its way into policy debates in Washington and Europe.

According to CNN-News18, this cycle has helped shape critical views of India in US policymaking circles. One example is the recent remark by Trump’s trade adviser Peter Navarro, who accused “Indian Brahmins" of profiteering from trade with Russia and criticised India’s oil policies. The caste reference, sources say, reflects the toolkit’s attempt to create social divisions while painting India as an unreliable partner.

Financial trails under the scanner

Enforcement agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), have been tracking the money flow. CNN-News18 reports that Soros-backed entities such as the Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the South Asia Equity Development Fund (SEDF) have been linked to Indian organisations. In 2023, global funding connected to Soros reportedly crossed $1.7 billion, with India described as a “prime target."

Between 2023 and 2025, ED investigations found more than Rs 300 crore routed through Mauritius-based Aspada and Indian advisory firms to so-called social impact start-ups and consultancies. CNN-News18 says direct funding of Rs 25 crore from SEDF also went to Indian entities like Rootbridge Services, Rootbridge Academy, and ASAR. All three are under probe for alleged foreign funding violations. A raid in Bengaluru in March 2025 uncovered another $2.9 million that entered India through similar routes. These flows are now being examined for FEMA and FCRA breaches.

A pattern across issues

The toolkit, as described to CNN-News18, follows a clear sequence:

• Funding is sent from overseas donors
• NGOs and consultancies produce narrative material
• Global outlets such as ProPublica, The Intercept, Al Jazeera, The Washington Post, and The New York Times amplify these narratives
• Diaspora groups like IAMC, Justice for All, and Hindus for Human Rights lobby US lawmakers and hold hearings on Indian policies
• The narratives then filter into State Department reports, think tank studies, and discussions in forums such as the United Nations and European Union

Impact on India-US ties

According to the report, repeated exposure to these narratives is starting to shape Trump’s position on India. Once considered a close strategic partner, New Delhi is now seen in some US circles as a “high-risk partner." Media stories and viral videos portraying India as unstable or authoritarian are adding to this perception.

Sources told CNN-News18 that the ultimate aim of the campaign is to undermine India’s democratic image, limit its foreign policy independence on matters involving Russia and China, and weaken its standing at the global stage through sustained narrative pressure.