Former National Security Advisor Bolton Slams Trump’s India Tariff Strategy

John Bolton, former US National Security Advisor, has criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to implement high tariffs against India, asserting that this has complicated trade negotiations. Bolton stated the high tariff strategy is a mistake and that tariffs should be lowered as discussions continue to seek a trade agreement. During an interview, Bolton emphasized that the Trump administration should reduce the tariffs while engaging in dialogue on the issue. Bolton expressed disapproval of the Trump administration’s imposition of an additional 25% tariff on India, seeing it as collateral damage due to India’s purchase of Russian oil. He also highlighted that China has not been penalized, even though it imports more oil and gas from Russia than India does. Commenting on India-US relations, Bolton advised that the Indian government should consider Trump as a one-time occurrence. The Government of India should deal with the situation and take actions that align with its national interests, understanding that this is a characteristic of Trump and not a reflection of a wider American perspective. Bolton also critiqued Trump’s foreign policy, which he described as lacking an overarching national security strategy and being overly transactional. The trade frictions have been caused by tariffs on Indian energy purchases, according to Bolton.