John Bolton Criticizes Trump’s Tariff Policy, Citing Damage to US-India Relations

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, arguing that they have undermined decades of Western efforts to distance India from its Cold War ties with the Soviet Union and counter the growing influence of China. In a series of posts on X, Bolton accused Trump of jeopardizing strategic gains with his economic approach. He also suggested that the policy has provided Chinese President Xi Jinping with an opportunity to reshape the geopolitical landscape in the East. Bolton stated that Trump’s tariff policies have ‘shredded’ the efforts to wean India away from its Cold War alliance with the Soviet Union/Russia. He also noted that Trump’s lack of strategic foresight has presented Xi Jinping with an opening to ‘reset the East.’ Bolton, who served as national security advisor during Trump’s first term, resigned due to differences over foreign policy. These remarks followed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where Prime Minister Modi held bilateral meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. During their meeting, Modi and Xi recognized the role of their economies in stabilizing global trade. Modi also emphasized the strong relationship between India and Russia, highlighting their cooperation as vital for global peace and stability.