'Donald Trump's tariffs could push India closer to…': Ex-US NSA John Bolton's 'enormous mistake' warning

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has raised concerns that President Donald Trump's tariff actions against India, which are meant to target Russia, might actually backfire by drawing New Delhi closer to both Moscow and Beijing. Recently, Trump imposed an extra 25 percent tariff on goods imported from India as a penalty for the country's ongoing purchase of Russian oil. In an interview with CNN, Bolton remarked, "Trump's tariffs aimed at India are supposed to hurt Russia, but they could inadvertently push India closer to Russia and China in response to these tariffs." He went on to warn, “Trump’s leniency towards China, coupled with his heavy-handed tariffs on India, threatens decades of American efforts to steer India away from its ties with Russia and China.” In an opinion piece for The Hill, Bolton criticized Trump’s trade strategy, stating that favoring China over India is “a massive mistake and completely counterproductive for America." He emphasized that these tariffs don’t align with the US's long-term geopolitical objectives, as the country is “imposing tariffs on both allies and adversaries.” "Regrettably, judging by the international reactions so far, the U.S. has likely lost a significant amount of trust and confidence, which took decades to build, in exchange for minimal economic benefits — if any — and the potential for serious losses," he wrote. Bolton also pointed out that the White House “appears to be leaning towards a more lenient approach for Beijing regarding tariff rates and other measures compared to what it has imposed on New Delhi,” cautioning that “if that’s the case, it could be a huge mistake.” He mentioned that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the August 12 deadline for China might be extended if negotiations seem promising. On July 30, Trump revealed that India’s tariff rate would be set at 26 percent, which is just one point lower than what was initially proposed on April 2. This marks a significant jump from the previous average rate of only 2.4 percent. He also took a strong stance against India’s purchase of Russian military equipment, highlighting a long-standing disagreement between the U.S. and India. Additionally, he criticized India for buying Russian oil and gas, which goes against America’s sanctions related to Ukraine. Trump even pointed out that India is part of the BRICS nations, which he has singled out for a 10 percent tariff. Bolton cautioned that if China were to secure a more favorable trade deal, it could lead to growing resentment in India. He noted, "China has a much larger trade surplus with the U.S. compared to India. Washington has consistently raised concerns about China's trade practices, which include stealing intellectual property, unfairly subsidizing its international companies, and restricting access to its domestic market, despite repeated promises to do otherwise." In a bold move, Donald Trump announced a hefty 50% tariff on Indian exports, targeting the country for its imports of Russian oil. Both India and Brazil are at the top of the U.S. tariff list. This decision to penalize India came just as trade negotiations between the two nations were nearing completion. Trump's comments labeling India’s economy as “dead” and its tariff barriers as “obnoxious” have only added to the tension in U.S.-India relations. India’s external affairs ministry expressed that the additional tariffs are “extremely unfortunate,” especially since other countries continue to trade with Russia.

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