WASHINGTON– John Bolton, former National Security Advisor under President Donald Trump and now one of his fiercest critics, has blasted the administration’s India policy, accusing Trump of unraveling decades of careful diplomatic outreach.
In an interview with Sky News on Monday, Bolton said Trump’s recent moves have pushed India closer to Russia and China. “Donald Trump, in the past weeks, has essentially upended that and for a variety of reasons sent India back toward Russia, to grow closer to China, and just shredding these decades of efforts to try and change that alignment,” Bolton said.
Bolton recalled that for years, successive U.S. administrations sought to “wean India away” from Moscow and caution New Delhi about the risks posed by Beijing. That effort, he said, was symbolized by the formation of the Asian Security Quad, which links the U.S. with India, Japan, and Australia.
He pointed to several Trump-era decisions that he said alienated India, including the sudden collapse of trade talks and steep new tariffs. “The Indians thought they were in close negotiations to solve this … and Trump just dismissed it and set 25 percent tariffs. Trump whacked India with another 25 percent. He did not tariff Russia, he did not tariff China, the largest purchaser of Russian oil and gas,” Bolton said.
Bolton also faulted Trump for claiming undue credit during a tense flare-up between India and Pakistan. “When the recent escalation … occurred, it escalated, then came back down. Trump took full credit for it as one of the six or seven wars that he stopped this year to deserve the Nobel Peace Prize, which has made India incandescent,” he said.
On Monday, Trump renewed his attacks on India’s trade practices, calling the economic relationship a “one-sided disaster.”
Bolton himself is facing scrutiny from federal investigators. U.S. media reported that his home and offices were raided last week in connection with allegations that he improperly kept classified documents. (Source: IANS)
