Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has warned that President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil could undo decades of American efforts to distance New Delhi from Moscow and Beijing.
Bolton pointed out that while Trump briefly engaged in a trade war with China earlier this year, he has since held back further escalation with Beijing in pursuit of a potential deal — even as he hit India with tariffs exceeding 50%, including a 25% secondary duty, citing its alleged funding of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Calling this disparity “an enormous mistake,” Bolton told CNN that the heavy-handed approach towards India — contrasted with leniency toward China — risks pushing India closer to Russia and China, potentially encouraging them to coordinate against the US. “Trump’s leniency on the Chinese and heavy-handed tariffs on India jeopardize decades of American efforts,” he said.
Christopher Padilla, former US trade official, echoed the concern, warning the tariffs could cause long-term damage to bilateral relations and lead India to question Washington’s reliability as a partner.
In an earlier op-ed for The Hill, Bolton accused the White House of prioritizing a trade deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping over strategic interests, noting that Beijing appears to be receiving softer tariff treatment than New Delhi.
So far, the additional tariffs have not deterred India from importing Russian oil. New Delhi has defended its purchases as essential for energy security, calling the US measures “unfair and unreasonable.” Russia has backed India, accusing Washington of illegal trade pressure — just a week before Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, a moment Bolton believes could allow Moscow to leverage the tariff dispute to its advantage.
