'India singled out': John Bolton slams US tariffs, calls Trump’s New Delhi policy 'confused'

Ex-NSA John Bolton

Former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton has questioned the US decision to impose a 25% penalty on India for purchasing oil from Russia, while China faces no such sanctions, calling Washington’s policy “confused” in an interview with Hindustan Times.

John Bolton described Donald Trump as an “aberrational president” and emphasized the need to limit further damage to U.S.-India relations during the remainder of Trump’s term. He acknowledged that the bilateral relationship is currently “in a very bad place.”

He raised concerns over the Liberation Day tariffs, noting that Indian negotiators were actively working toward a mutually satisfactory arrangement when President Trump abruptly imposed a 25% tariff without warning. He added that an additional 25% was later imposed due to India’s purchase of Russian oil and gas.

“Well, I think it’s unfortunately very confused,” he remarked.

He further stated, “It turns out that Russia has not faced any new sanctions. China has not faced any new sanctions, notwithstanding the fact that they were the major purchasers of Russian oil and gas. India has been singled out.”

"Leaving India hanging out to dry as the only country to which punitive action has been taken obviously leads a lot of people to conclude that the United States has given up on India, and I do worry that India is being driven closer to Russia and China," he added.

While responding to questions on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s criticism of India for purchasing Russian energy, he said, "Secretary Bessent isn’t very experienced in international affairs, and I don’t think he sees the growing axis between China and Russia."

He added, "But the sanctions as written do not preclude anyone, including India, from buying Russian oil at the capped price, or below $60/barrel, and then selling it elsewhere."

Addressing concerns over whether trust between India and the U.S. has been strained beyond repair in recent months, he remarked, "unfortunately, what Trump has done on tariffs is destroying decades of effort with India and many others to build up good faith and reliance, and it will take time to repair that."