Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton Says Trump’s Tariffs Undermine Decades of US Policy Toward India

New York—Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has stated that President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly his use of tariffs, have “shredded” decades of Western efforts to move India away from its close ties with Russia and to warn it about the threat posed by China.

In a post on the social media platform X, Bolton, a frequent critic of the former president, said that the West had spent many years trying to encourage India to buy sophisticated weapons from countries other than Russia. He also said that the US and its allies had worked to build cooperation with India through groups like the Quad, which includes Japan, Australia, and the United States.

In an interview with Sky News, Bolton explained that Trump’s recent actions, including a tariff policy that has hit India with steep import duties and his claims of having resolved a recent India-Pakistan military conflict, have worsened the situation. Bolton argues that these actions have pushed India “back toward Russia, to grow closer to China, and just shredding these decades of efforts.”

The comments from Bolton come as US-India relations have reportedly entered a strained period due to Trump’s economic policies and his public statements regarding India’s trade practices and its purchase of Russian oil.

With input from TNIE

For more details: Navamalayalam.com