Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump&rsquo;s trade policies, accusing the former president of undoing decades of American diplomacy with India and giving China fresh room to expand its influence in Asia.
Bolton said that the West had long worked to steer India away from its dependence on Russia while building economic bridges with New Delhi. Trump&rsquo;s tariff-heavy approach, he argued, has &ldquo;shredded&rdquo; those efforts.
&ldquo;The West has spent decades trying to wean India away from its Cold War attachment to the Soviet Union/ Russia, and cautioning India on the threat posed by China. Donald Trump has shredded decades of efforts with his disastrous tariff policy,&rdquo; Bolton said.
According to him, Trump&rsquo;s refusal to see economic decisions within a broader geopolitical strategy gave Beijing an opportunity to realign Asia. &ldquo;Donald Trump&rsquo;s unwillingness to consider diplomatic moves in a larger strategic context has given Xi Jinping an opportunity to reset the East,&rdquo; he added.
<h3 data-start="1443" data-end="1493">India at SCO Summit Amid Tariff Tensions</h3>
Bolton&rsquo;s remarks came just after Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. On the sidelines, Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Indian and Chinese leaders acknowledged the stabilising role of their economies in global trade despite ongoing frictions.
<h3 data-start="1876" data-end="1900">Tariff Fallout</h3>
Washington has slapped tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian goods &mdash; first a 25 per cent duty over trade imbalance, followed by another 25 per cent after India declined to halt its oil imports from Russia.
Bolton warned that this punitive economic stance risks pushing India closer to Beijing and Moscow at a time when Washington should be building stronger strategic links with New Delhi. He stressed that undermining India&rsquo;s trust could allow China to reshape regional alignments in its favour.
The debate underscores a growing tension within American foreign policy circles: whether to prioritise short-term economic protectionism or long-term strategic partnerships in Asia.

Bolton: Trump tariffs hurt India ties, aid China

John Bolton says Trump’s tariff policy weakened US-India ties, boosting China’s influence

Bolton: Trump tariffs hurt India ties, aid China

John Bolton says Trump’s tariff policy weakened US-India ties, boosting China’s influence

September 2, 2025 | 15:08 IST