John Bolton Shares Tips on Handling Trump: India’s Smart Move on Tariffs
Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has praised India’s quiet approach to dealing with US tariffs under President Donald Trump. Speaking to in Washington DC, Bolton said staying calm and using back-channel talks worked best. "If you jump into public fights with someone like Trump, things just get tougher," he explained, highlighting India’s restrained strategy during Trump’s time in office.
Bolton pointed out two big worries in Washington back then. First, the tariff disputes heated up trade tensions between India and the US. Second, Trump tried to claim credit for cooling down India-Pakistan tensions after a terrorist attack in Kashmir. "It felt wrong in DC—mixing tariffs with Trump acting like he fixed the Kashmir issue," Bolton noted.
On India’s ties with Russia, Bolton urged a rethink. He advised cutting back on military and economic links with Moscow, especially as Russia grows closer to China. "India’s best bet long-term is to pull away from Russia. Putin and Xi Jinping call it a ‘no-limits’ partnership. Even when PM Modi meets them, those photos send a message to Washington. But that’s not a smart plan for India’s future," he told .
Trade talks between India and the US? Bolton stays hopeful. He believes both sides are close to a deal despite hurdles. "They’re not far apart. Keep negotiating, and it’ll lead to an agreement. Let’s focus on the positives—like ditching tariffs and opening markets for stronger economic ties that help everyone," he said. Bolton revealed negotiators from both countries nearly sealed a pact, but Trump’s sudden push for 25% tariffs caught India off guard. "The teams thought they had it, then Trump drops this out of the blue," he added.
Bolton didn’t hold back on Trump’s global trade style. He slammed it for hurting America’s image. "Trump doesn’t get it—this trade war he’s waging is eroding the trust we’ve built over decades. He’s burning through goodwill we’ve saved up," Bolton warned.
Dismissing recent jabs from Trump’s trade advisor Peter Navarro, Bolton called him out sharply. Navarro accused India of cashing in on cheap Russian oil, hurting US jobs, and even labeled India a "laundromat for the Kremlin" with casteist digs at Brahmins profiting from the trade. "Peter knows zilch about world affairs. He can’t even tell friends from foes or how to treat allies," Bolton shot back. He joked, "Leave him alone in a room for an hour, and he’d argue with himself. That’s not real diplomacy—it’s just a weird Trump-era thing, not what most Americans think."
Bolton made it clear: Navarro’s words don’t speak for US policy. They’re an odd outlier from the Trump administration.
In a positive turn, Trump himself sounded upbeat on Tuesday. Despite past friction, he called PM Narendra Modi a "very good friend" and shared optimism on Truth Social. "India and the US are pushing forward on trade barriers. I’ll chat with Modi soon—I’m sure we’ll nail a win for both our great nations!" Trump posted.
Bolton’s insights come as India-US relations stay in the spotlight, with ongoing talks on tariffs, trade deals, and global partnerships shaping the future.
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