Trump shredded decades of efforts, says John Bolton on PM Modi's China visit

Former US national security adviser John Bolton has sharply criticised President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, saying it has "shredded" decades of American efforts to deepen strategic ties with India while giving China an opening to expand its influence in Asia.

In a series of posts on X on Monday, Bolton wrote, "The West has spent decades trying to wean India away from its Cold War attachment to the Soviet Union/ Russia, and cautioning India on the threat posed by China. Donald Trump has shredded decades of efforts with his disastrous tariff policy."

Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser from 2018 to 2019 before resigning over foreign policy differences, argued that Trump’s narrow economic approach had larger geopolitical consequences.

"Donald Trump’s unwillingness to consider diplomatic moves in a larger strategic context has given Xi Jinping an opportunity to reset the East," he said in another post.

PM MODI ATTENDS SCO SUMMIT AMID TRUMP'S TARIFFS

His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China.

On the sidelines, Modi held bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Modi and Xi recognised the importance of their economies in stabilising global trade amid mounting tensions.

Bolton suggested that Trump’s tariff-first approach risks undermining precisely those economic and diplomatic bridges. By alienating India with punitive trade measures, he said, Washington has handed Beijing an opening to strengthen ties with New Delhi and reshape regional alignments.

India is facing uncertainties after the US imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing a sharp trade imbalance. In addition, it has levied another 25 per cent after India snubbed Washington’s demand to cut oil trade with Russia, taking the total duty to 50 per cent.

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With inputs from agencies

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