- By Shivangi Sharma
- Mon, 01 Sep 2025 09:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Former US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has launched a scathing attack on President Donald Trump, accusing him of undermining Washington’s strategic partnership with India to favour Pakistan. Sullivan claimed that Trump’s administration has sidelined New Delhi, allegedly due to business interests with Pakistan, and warned of serious long-term consequences for US foreign policy.
“Now, largely due to Pakistan's willingness to engage in business deals with the Trump family, Trump has sidelined the India relationship. This is a major strategic setback because a strong India-US partnership serves our core interests,” Sullivan said.
Tariffs Spark Outrage
Sullivan’s remarks come in the wake of the United States imposing a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, effective August 27, the highest such duty levied on any country. The move threatens to hit key Indian sectors such as textiles, jewellery, and mechanical appliances, raising alarms about jobs and growth. Pakistan faces just a 19 per cent tariff, fueling concerns that Washington is tilting towards Islamabad.
While Trump initially launched his trade war with China as the primary target, he retreated after Beijing retaliated with counter-tariffs. Sullivan suggested that New Delhi is now bearing the brunt of Trump’s aggressive trade stance, particularly over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil amid the Ukraine conflict.
“Sabotaging Partnerships”
Speaking on The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller, Sullivan said Trump’s actions were pushing India closer to China, eroding Washington’s credibility among allies. “Imagine being Germany, a Japan, or a Canada and watching this unfold. One would think, ‘That could be us tomorrow,’” he warned.
Sullivan argued that Trump’s unpredictability is driving countries to hedge against the US. “When I go to these places now and talk to leaders, they are talking about derisking from the United States. They now see the US as the big disruptor, the country that can’t be counted on,” he said.
He added that China, despite its own controversies, was beginning to appear as a more “responsible player” on the global stage, while America’s global image was “in the toilet.”
A report by investment bank Jefferies echoed Sullivan’s concerns, suggesting that Trump’s tariffs on Indian goods were partly motivated by “personal pique” over not being allowed to mediate in the India-Pakistan conflict. The report also highlighted agriculture as another key sticking point in US-India trade.
“What’s happening with India will have direct and reverberating effects across all of our relationships and partnerships worldwide,” Sullivan cautioned, underscoring the risks of Washington alienating a vital strategic ally in South Asia.
ALSO READ: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Shows Water Pain At SCO, As PM Modi Talks Tough On Terror
