Ex-NSA John Bolton Raps US Tariffs On India, Calls Trump ‘Aberrational President’

Last Updated:August 21, 2025, 19:48 IST

John Bolton criticizes US policy on India, calling it confused and unfairly punitive as he urged repair of strained bilateral ties.

US President Donald Trump and ex NSA John Bolton (File Photo: AFP)

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton criticised Washington’s handling of ties with India, calling its policy “confused" and questioning punitive tariffs imposed on New Delhi while Beijing escapes similar measures. In an interview with Hindustan Times, John Bolton said the India-US relationship is currently in “a very bad place" and warned that New Delhi risks being pushed closer to Moscow and Beijing.

‘India Singled Out’

John Bolton highlighted the 25% penalty levied on Indian imports for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas, contrasting it with the absence of sanctions on China despite its larger energy imports from Russia. He said, “Leaving India hanging out to dry as the only country to which punitive action has been taken obviously leads a lot of people to conclude that the United States has given up on India. I do worry that India is being driven closer to Russia and China."

He described the decision as part of what he termed “the aberrational Trump presidency," arguing that the White House has adopted inconsistent positions on trade and energy sanctions.

John Bolton Defends India

Responding to criticism by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that India refined Russian crude and resold it internationally, John Bolton said New Delhi had not violated sanctions.

“The sanctions as written do not preclude anyone, including India, from buying Russian oil at the capped price or below $60 a barrel, and then selling it elsewhere. If that’s the complaint, the complaint lies with the sanctions, not India’s behaviour," he said.

John Bolton urged both sides to contain the damage to bilateral ties until Donald Trump’s presidency ends, insisting his approach does not represent mainstream US policy.

“Trump doesn’t have a philosophy, so there’s no legacy for his successors. Our objective should be to keep the damage to the relationship at a minimum, and then think about how to repair it quickly thereafter," John Bolton said.

John Bolton On Trump’s Approach To China

John Bolton also accused Donald Trump of being inconsistent on China, pointing out that, “In the first term, Trump wanted the biggest trade deal in history with China. If you want a trade war, we should have teamed up and had a trade war with China, because they’re the worst actor in international economics."

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Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published:

August 21, 2025, 19:48 IST

News world Ex-NSA John Bolton Raps US Tariffs On India, Calls Trump ‘Aberrational President’

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