Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton warned that the US President Donald Trump’s high tariffs on India may have a counterproductive effect and could make New Delhi draw nearer to Russia and China. Interviewed by CNN, Bolton added that 50% tariffs, meant to punish Russia for Ukraine war might actually hurt India-US strategic ties developed over decades. “Trump’s tariffs on India are meant to hurt Russia but they will drive India into the arms of Russia and China to resist such tariffs,” Bolton told CNN.
Bolton accused the Trump administration of being lenient on Beijing while being heavy-handed on New Delhi. He pointed out that China, despite having a far larger trade surplus with the US and being accused of unfair trade practices, was not facing similar tariff hikes. Writing in an op-ed for The Hill, Bolton stated, “The White House appears to be moving toward more favorable treatment for Beijing on tariff rates and other measures than it applied to New Delhi. If that is the case, it will be a potentially gigantic error.” He further stated that such actions would jeopardize decades of US initiatives to wean India away from Russian and Chinese influence.
Risk To Long-Term Ties
Former US trade official Christopher Padilla also spoke of Bolton’s concerns, stating that the tariffs can build long-term distrust. “It could raise questions in the future whether the US is a good partner, since the tariffs would be remembered,” said Padilla. Bolton further said India’s response to the tariffs was “very negative”, especially since Beijing was let off the hook as well.
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The US tariffs were imposed on India’s continued imports of Russian oil. New Delhi has, however, justified the imports, labeling the tariffs as “unfair and unreasonable”. Notably, Moscow has retaliated by accusing Washington of exercising illegal trade pressure on India, a week ahead of Trump meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Bolton cautioned that Putin might use the session to pursue his own agenda, potentially capitalizing on tensions generated by the India tariffs.
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Bolton called the situation the “worst outcome” for the US, stating the tariffs had not altered India’s oil policy while jeopardizing strategic blowback. He also warned that Trump’s “zeal for a deal” with Xi Jinping was possibly sacrificing long-term American geopolitical interests. “Unfortunately, by levying tariffs on friend and foe alike, the US has likely suffered a considerable loss of trust and confidence, built up over decades of effort, in exchange for minimal economic gains, if any and the risk of formidable losses,” he wrote in The Hill.