Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton has sharply criticised former President Donald Trump for sanctioning India over its purchase of Russian oil, arguing that the move reflects a failure to grasp broader strategic priorities. Bolton said Trump “lost the bigger strategic picture” by targeting India instead of addressing Russia or China, both of which purchase significantly larger volumes of Russian oil.
Bolton emphasized that Trump’s approach prioritized trade discussions over wider geopolitical strategy. “All Trump wanted to do was talk about trade. The bigger strategic picture was lost. He didn’t sanction Russia, but he sanctioned India. He didn’t sanction China, which has significantly greater purchases of oil and gas than India did,” Bolton said.
He illustrated Trump’s fascination with China by recalling an anecdote from a Chequers lunch with former UK Prime Minister Theresa May, where Trump reportedly boasted about the grand welcome he received during his 2017 China visit, highlighting his focus on personal prestige in foreign relations.
Bolton accused Trump of punishing India—a critical US partner in countering Beijing—while being “fascinated” by China, calling the sanctions a misstep that undermines US-India relations amid rising trade tensions. He also noted that the personal rapport Trump once shared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to have dissipated, observing that strong personal relationships in diplomacy may help at times but cannot protect against adverse policy decisions.
The remarks come at a sensitive moment in India-US ties, with Trump having imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods and Modi engaging with both Putin and Xi Jinping, signaling India’s recalibrating foreign policy priorities.
