US Prez Trump's Personal Relationship With PM Modi Gone Now: Former US NSA

John Bolton shares insights on the deteriorating US-India relationship under Donald Trump, emphasising trade tensions and the need for strategic diplomacy.

The personal relationship between US President and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "is gone now", former US National Security Adviser John Bolton said.

The once-blooming friendship between the two leaders has withered away and he warned that close ties with the US President will not shield world leaders from potential pitfalls.

Bolton believes Trump's actions have pushed US-India relations back by decades. The camaraderie that once existed between Trump and Modi seems to have vanished, especially amidst ongoing trade tensions sparked by Trump's tariff policies on India. "Trump had a very good relationship personally with Modi. I think that's gone now, and it's a lesson to everybody," Bolton mentioned in an interview with LBC.

Impact of Tariffs on India

India has felt the sting of US tariffs, facing a 25 percent duty on its goods. Additionally, there's another 25 percent slapped on imports of Russian crude, which bumps up the overall tariff burden on Indian products to a hefty 50 percent. This situation has added strain to the already tense trade relations between the two nations.

Bolton was asked if there's a shift in the global order, especially with Prime Minister Modi rubbing shoulders with Russian and Chinese leaders at the SCO summit. Responding to this, he pointed fingers at Trump for how he's treated India recently, saying it reversed years of progress in moving India away from its Cold War ties with Russia.

Bolton's Critique of Trump's Diplomacy

Bolton, who served as Trump's national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019, hasn't held back his criticism of Trump's international dealings. He argues that Trump views international relations through his personal connections with other leaders. For instance, if Trump gets along well with Vladimir Putin, he assumes that means smooth sailing for US-Russia relations—something Bolton clearly disagrees with.

In wrapping up his thoughts, Bolton emphasized that relying solely on personal relationships in diplomacy can be misleading. The complexities of international politics require more than just friendly ties between leaders.