Sullivan’s remarks follow US-India tensions over 50% tariffs and penalties on India’s Russian oil purchases
Washington DC
Former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Tuesday accused President Donald Trump of damaging the strategic relationship between the US and India for personal family business with Pakistan.
In an interview with MeidasTouch Network’s YouTube channel, Sullivan said that the US had worked to build strong ties with India in areas like technology, talent, economics, and strategic security, particularly to address threats from China. “Now, because of Pakistan’s willingness to do business with Trump’s family, he has thrown away the India relationship,” Sullivan said. He warned that this could make other allies, such as Germany and Japan, doubt America’s reliability in the future.
Sullivan’s remarks come amid rising tensions between Washington and New Delhi after the US imposed 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 percent penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, expressed optimism, saying India and the US would resolve trade differences. He noted that India shares closer values with Washington than with China or Russia.
Meanwhile, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro criticised India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Navarro described the meetings as “shameful” and urged Modi to align with the US, Europe, and Ukraine instead of Russia.
At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, PM Modi stressed the importance of connectivity among member nations to boost trade, saying, “Strong connectivity not only boosts trade but also opens doors to growth and trust.”
Sullivan’s comments underscore the growing diplomatic tension between the US and India and highlight the impact of perceived personal interests on long-term international relationships.
