Former US Secretary of State John Kerry has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of relations with India. Speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum, Kerry said that giving ultimatums without genuine diplomacy does not show strength. He called the tension between India and Washington “unfortunate.”
Kerry Calls for Genuine Diplomacy
Kerry said, “We are concerned. This struggle between President Trump and PM Modi is unfortunate. Great nations don’t necessarily exhibit greatness by giving people ultimatums all the time without sort of a genuine diplomatic effort to try to find common ground and do things through the normal course of business.”
He compared Trump’s methods with the Obama years. “There has been a little bit too much ordering, pressuring, and pushing around,” he added, stressing that earlier negotiations were based on respect and cooperation.
Trade Disputes Strain Relations
India-US ties have come under pressure in recent weeks. The Trump administration imposed secondary tariffs on India for buying Russian oil. Tariffs on Indian exports now stand above 50%. Reports also suggest that ties worsened after New Delhi refused Trump’s offer to play a peacemaking role during its conflict with Pakistan.
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Kerry expressed hope that the trade row could be resolved soon. He praised India’s approach. “My hope is that we will resolve this dispute. I think India has made a pretty powerful offering frankly,” he said. Kerry also noted that India’s reported offer of zero tariffs on several US imports was a “big shift.”
US Officials Sound Alarm
Kerry is not the only former US official raising concerns. John Bolton, Trump’s former National Security Adviser, warned that Trump’s policies could undo decades of American efforts to bring India closer to the US and away from Russia and China. He said that Trump’s pro-China tilt could be “an enormous mistake.”
Bolton told CNN that the tariffs meant to hurt Russia could instead push India closer to both Russia and China. This, he warned, could lead them to even negotiate together against Washington.
Experts Warn of Long-Term Damage
Other experts also criticized the move. Christopher Padilla, a former US trade official, said that the tariffs could cause lasting damage to India-US ties. He warned they could make India question whether the US is a reliable partner.
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Top economist Jeffrey Sachs went further, calling Trump’s tariff strategy a blunder. “These tariffs on India are not a strategy; they’re sabotage,” Sachs said. “The imposition of the 25 per cent penalty tariff on India, what it did overnight was unify the BRICS countries as never before.”
Can the Rift Be Fixed?
The growing criticism from Kerry, Bolton, Padilla, and Sachs highlights growing concern in Washington. Many fear that Trump’s tough tactics risk driving India away at a time when the US needs strong allies in Asia. Although India has expressed a desire to negotiate, Washington’s pressure strategies continue to draw criticism.
