Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has criticized President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on India, warning they could drive New Delhi closer to China and Russia, undermining years of diplomatic progress.
Speaking to CNN, Bolton said that while the tariffs aim to hurt Russia by targeting India’s oil purchases, they instead risk “spoiling decades of relations between India and America” and could be “enormously counterproductive.”
Bolton accused Trump of being lenient on China while imposing heavy penalties on India, despite China’s much larger trade surplus with the US.
In an opinion piece for The Hill, he cautioned that the situation could worsen if China secures a better trade deal, inflaming Trump’s “resentment for India.”
Trump’s latest tariff moves, announced on August 1, followed his earlier “Liberation Day” tariffs of April 2, which were paused for 90 days to allow for trade negotiations.
The revised tariff structure ranges from 10% to 41% depending on the country and product, with India facing a 25% duty after failing to reach an agreement with Washington. An additional 25% tariff is set to be imposed in three weeks as punishment for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Responding indirectly to Trump’s actions, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his commitment to protecting the interests of farmers, fishermen, and dairy producers.
Speaking recently, at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference, Modi said he would not compromise “even if I have to pay a heavy price for it,” stressing that agricultural and rural livelihoods remain India’s top priority in any trade negotiation.
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