Pakistan’s ‘flattery’ and ‘bribery’ derailed US–India relations: former Pentagon official

Trump-era drift pushes India-Russia closeness

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said that India and Russia’s deepening ties are a result of US President Donald Trump’s “gross incompetence”, as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged “uninterrupted shipments” of fuel to New Delhi.

Rubin said Americans are “flabbergasted” by Trump’s actions, which he says have upended relations between Washington and New Delhi. He questioned whether the shift was driven by “Pakistan’s flattery or bribery”.

“A lot of us are still flabbergasted at how Donald Trump has reversed US-India ties. Many people question what motivates Donald Trump. 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,” Rubin said.

He also accused the United States of being “hypocritical” for “lecturing” India over its purchases of Russian oil while Washington itself continues to trade with Moscow, and defended New Delhi’s right to put its own interests first.

Rubin told ANI: “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. We purchase goods and materials for which we don't have alternative markets. We are being hypocritical when we lecture India.”

Instead of criticising India, Rubin argued that Washington should offer fuel at lower prices. “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.

Tensions between Washington and New Delhi rose after Trump imposed punitive 50 per cent tariffs on most Indian products in August, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.

Putin arrived in India on December 4 for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who hosted the talks in New Delhi with a focus on energy, defence and trade, thanked the Russian leader for his “unwavering commitment towards India”.

“Russia is a reliable supplier of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development of India's energy,” Putin told Modi after the talks.

“We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy,” he added, according to an official translator.

President Putin concluded his visit to New Delhi on Friday night, with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar accompanying him to the airport.