Ex-Pentagon adviser says ‘not Putin, but Trump deserves credit for uniting India-Russia’

‘Trump deserves credit for uniting India–Russia,’ says former Pentagon official

A former Pentagon official has said that US President Donald Trump deserves a “Nobel Prize for bringing India and Russia together,” while arguing that the shift in New Delhi–Moscow ties stems from Washington’s own strategic missteps.

Speaking to ANI on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to India, Michael Rubin said the outcome was seen positively in Moscow, as “India has bestowed honours on Vladimir Putin that he can hardly get anywhere else in the world.”

He added, “I would actually argue that Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Prize for bringing India and Russia together the way he did… it is seen as Trump’s gross incompetence by the majority of US people.”

Rubin questioned whether current agreements and decisions reflect enduring shared interests or are driven by resentment over the way “President Donald Trump has treated Prime Minister Modi and India more broadly.” He added that US citizens are “flabbergasted” by what he described as a reversal in ties between Washington and New Delhi.

“Perhaps it was the flattery of the Pakistanis. More likely, it was bribery on the part of the Pakistanis or their backers in Turkey and Qatar towards Donald Trump... This is one disastrous bribe that is going to saddle America with a strategic deficit for decades to come,” he said.

During Putin’s two-day visit, the Russian leader vowed “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to India, reinforcing energy cooperation at a time when the US continues to pressure New Delhi over discounted Russian oil purchases. Rubin criticised this approach, saying the US is being “hypocritical” because it, too, maintains economic ties with Moscow.

“What Americans don't understand is that Indians elected Prime Minister Modi to represent Indian interests. India is the most populous country. It's soon going to become the world's third-largest economy, and for that, it needs energy. The US is being hypocritical because we purchase from Russia,” he said.

Rubin further argued that Washington should focus on offering competitive alternatives rather than “lecturing” New Delhi. “If we don't have an answer for that, our best approach is simply to shut up because India needs to take care of Indian security first,” he added.

Putin’s visit included talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi centred on defence, trade, and energy, with the Russian President thanking India for its long-standing partnership. Putin departed New Delhi on Friday night, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar accompanying him to the airport.