John Bolton, former National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump, has raised concerns over the heavy tariffs imposed on India, particularly in relation to its oil imports from Russia. Bolton warned that the tariffs, intended to target Russia, may have counterproductive effects by pushing India closer to both Russia and China, potentially undermining decades of American efforts to align India with the West.
Bolton pointed out the irony that, while Trump engaged in a brief trade conflict with China in April, he imposed tariffs of over 50% on India, including a 25% secondary tariff, which Trump justified by accusing India of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine. Bolton emphasized that this move backfired, as India reacted strongly to what it perceived as unfair treatment, especially given that China has largely escaped such tariffs.
The former Trump aide argued that these tariffs could damage U.S.-India relations in the long term, as India, feeling unfairly targeted, may turn to Russia and China for support, possibly even creating a united front against the U.S. Bolton also highlighted that Trump’s lenient stance on China could end up undermining U.S. strategic interests, as it appears the U.S. is offering Beijing more favorable terms compared to India.
Foreign policy expert Christopher Padilla also expressed concern, warning that these tariffs could harm U.S.-India relations in the future. He suggested that India might question whether the U.S. can be a reliable partner, as the tariffs will remain a lingering issue in bilateral ties.
In his opinion piece for The Hill, Bolton emphasized that Trump’s “zeal for a deal” with Chinese President Xi Jinping could lead to the U.S. sacrificing its strategic interests. He urged that a more balanced approach would be essential to maintain India as a key partner in the region.
As tensions between the U.S. and India rise over the tariffs, India has maintained its position, defending its oil imports from Russia and criticizing the U.S. tariffs as “unfair and unreasonable.” Moscow has expressed support for New Delhi, accusing the U.S. of illegal trade pressure. Bolton speculated that Russian President Vladimir Putin could use the ongoing tariff issue to further his own agenda during his upcoming meeting with Trump.