A former Pentagon official has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for what he calls a dramatic reversal in relations between Washington and New Delhi, suggesting Pakistan’s “flattery or bribery” may be influencing the president’s decisions.
Michael Rubin, speaking to ANI, said Americans are “flabbergasted” by Trump’s actions, which he argues have pushed India closer to Russia. He blamed Trump’s “gross incompetence” for driving New Delhi further into Moscow’s orbit at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin has pledged uninterrupted fuel shipments to India.
“A lot of us are still flabbergasted at how Donald Trump has reversed U.S.–India ties,” Rubin said. “Many people question what motivates him. Perhaps it was the flattery of the Pakistanis. More likely, it was bribery from Pakistan or their backers in Turkey and Qatar. This is one disastrous bribe that is going to saddle America with a strategic deficit for decades to come.”
Rubin accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for criticizing India’s purchase of Russian oil, noting that Washington itself continues to buy goods and materials from Moscow where alternatives don’t exist. He said India’s energy decisions reflect its national priorities—and rightly so. “Indians elected Prime Minister Modi to represent Indian interests. India is the most populous country and soon to be the world’s third-largest economy. For that, it needs energy.”
He argued that instead of lecturing India, Washington should focus on offering competitive alternatives. “If we don’t have a cheaper fuel option, our best approach is simply to shut up because India needs to take care of Indian security first,” he said.
The criticism comes months after Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on most Indian goods in retaliation for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Rubin’s remarks coincided with Putin’s visit to New Delhi for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit, where energy, defence and trade discussions dominated the agenda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the Russian leader for his “unwavering commitment” to India, while Putin reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to supply oil, gas, coal and other energy resources without interruption.
“Russia is a reliable supplier of everything needed for India’s development,” Putin said after talks with Modi. He concluded his visit Friday night, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar accompanying him to the airport.