FazTimes Media, Washington/New Delhi – Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has once again caused a big discussion by strongly criticising Donald Trump's approach to India. Bolton, who has a lot of experience in diplomacy and has worked on foreign policy for a long time, said that Trump's actions not only messed up the progress the US and India had made over the years but also pushed India back towards Russia and made it more connected to China.

During an interview with Sky News, Bolton said, “Donald Trump, in the past weeks, has basically turned everything around and, for a lot of reasons, sent India back toward Russia, closer to China, and destroyed these decades of efforts to change that direction.”

His comments have started discussions among people who make decisions and experts in Washington, New Delhi, and other important cities. Many believe this is a warning that the delicate relationships between different countries in Asia might now be in more trouble.

India has always had strong ties with Russia, especially in defence and energy, a relationship that started during the Cold War. Even though India has been slowly moving closer to the US in recent years, especially through the Quad with Japan and Australia, it still relies heavily on Russian weapons and oil.

According to Al Jazeera, the US has tried for a long time to help India move away from Russia by offering better defence deals, sharing intelligence, and investing in technology. Every US president since George W. Bush and Barack Obama has worked on building what many experts call a “natural partnership” with India, the world’s largest democracy.

Bolton argued that Trump went against this progress. He pointed out that the US had spent years warning India about China's growing power and used the Quad as a way to stand up to Beijing. However, Trump's trade policies and unpredictable way of dealing with other countries, Bolton said, sent mixed messages to India.

Trade Tensions and Tariff Battles

A key issue, according to Bolton, was Trump’s decision to impose high tariffs on Indian products. He said that India believed it was close to resolving trade issues with the US, but the talks were suddenly ended. India thought they were in serious talks to fix this, like Britain was with Trump, but Trump just walked away and put 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. Then he added another 25 per cent. Meanwhile, Russia and China didn’t face such penalties, Bolton said.

As reported by BBC News, Trump often criticises India’s trade practices, calling the relationship a “one-sided disaster.” The sudden increase in tariffs upset Indian officials, who saw them as unfair and not in line with a good partnership.

Kashmir Tensions and Trump’s Role

Bolton also mentioned Trump’s controversial role in the India-Pakistan dispute over Kashmir. After a terrorist attack led to fighting, Trump claimed he was the key to stopping the conflict. “When the situation between India and Pakistan over Kashmir got worse, Trump took all the credit for ending it, even saying he should win a Nobel Peace Prize. This made India very angry, as they felt his comments oversimplified a very sensitive issue,” Bolton said.

In India, Kashmir is a matter of sovereignty, and any outside interference — especially from the US — is often seen as meddling. Experts think Trump’s comments made India’s foreign policy officials more distrustful of the US.

India Between Russia and the US

Bolton’s comments show the tough choices India faces in a changing world. Even though India has been working more with the US on defence, it still buys advanced weapons and cheaper oil from Russia. According to Reuters, India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian energy, even as Western countries punish Russia for the Ukraine war.

This situation has disappointed some in Washington, who want India to stand more firmly with them against Russia and China. But Indian officials say they have to prioritise national interests, like getting affordable energy and relying on old defence ties.

Political analyst C. Raja Mohan said Trump’s unpredictable style made things harder. “Unlike past US leaders who worked to build trust and keep things consistent, Trump’s approach brought in a lot of uncertainty. This has made India closer to traditional partners like Russia while being careful with China,” he wrote in a column.

China continues to play a major role in the situation. Recent border conflicts between India and China have shown how much of a security risk India sees in its northern neighbour. At the same time, China's increasing connections with Russia are making it harder for India to manage its relationships with both countries.

The Guardian reports that Trump’s foreign policy didn’t always focus on the Quad or India’s concerns about China. India had hoped the US would support it more in the Indo-Pacific region, but critics say the US was inconsistent, and this allowed China to take advantage.

Bolton pointed out that these missed chances could weaken the Quad, which many view as key to standing up to Chinese influence in Asia. Bolton’s comments also happen at a time when he is facing legal problems in the US. Federal agents recently searched his home and office, which is connected to claims that he kept secret government documents. Bolton says he did nothing wrong, but the situation has been getting a lot of media coverage.

Some experts think Bolton’s strong words about Trump are both a real policy concern and a way to show himself as a tough foreign policy leader. Either way, his remarks have brought back discussions about what the future might hold for US-India relations.

As India faces a tough geopolitical landscape, the lessons from Bolton’s remarks might influence how New Delhi acts. The Modi government has been taking a strategy of "multi-alignment", which means building stronger ties with the US and Europe while keeping good relations with Russia and being careful with China.

Experts believe this strategy will likely continue no matter who wins the next US election. However, the possibility of Trump coming back to the White House has made some Indian officials worry about old problems coming back.

Al Jazeera notes that many Indian officials still hope the US will understand India’s independent foreign policy and work towards a practical partnership instead of pushing for strict alignment.

Conclusion

John Bolton's strong criticism of Trump shows how difficult it is for India to navigate international politics. For a long time, India has tried to find its own way, not fully joining the West or relying on Russia. Bolton says Trump's actions messed up this careful approach and could make India lean towards its past allies or enemies.

For people in India, this story reminds them how world events affect their country, ike the cost of oil, trade rules, and security in South Asia. Whether India can keep its balanced approach depends not only on how it handles diplomacy but also on how steady the US is in its support.

As Bolton's comments spread in foreign policy discussions, one thing is clear: India's role in the world is both an opportunity and a challenge for every US government.

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