In a significant development that underscores rising tensions in US-India relations, former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has accused President Donald Trump of undermining Washington’s strategic partnership with New Delhi in favour of Pakistan.

Speaking in an interview with the MeidasTouch Network’s YouTube channel, Sullivan alleged that Trump prioritised business dealings linked to his family in Pakistan over preserving America’s long-term strategic alignment with India.

Highlighting the importance of the US-India bond, Sullivan stressed that the two countries should be natural partners in key areas such as technology, talent, economic growth, and strategic responses to threats from China.

However, he warned that Trump’s move to sideline India could damage America’s credibility with allies worldwide, as countries like Germany and Japan may fear that their partnerships with Washington are similarly vulnerable to transactional decisions driven by personal interests rather than national strategy.

According to Sullivan, Trump has effectively “thrown away” ties with India, sending a troubling signal to America’s global allies.

These remarks come at a time when trade friction between Washington and New Delhi is intensifying following the imposition of steep tariffs on Indian goods by the US.

Currently, Indian exports face a 50% duty, compounded by a 25% penalty linked to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which Washington perceives as indirectly financing Moscow’s military campaign in Ukraine.

Against this backdrop, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has sought to play down speculation of an irreversible rift between the two democracies. In an interview with Fox Business, Bessent expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi would eventually resolve their differences, stressing that India’s democratic character and values are far more aligned with the United States than with authoritarian regimes like China and Russia.

While describing India’s practices of buying and reselling Russian oil as problematic and unhelpful to the West’s effort to isolate Moscow, Bessent argued that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit—which India has actively engaged with—should not be overemphasised, calling it “largely performative” in nature.

However, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro adopted a far harsher tone toward India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to reporters, Navarro ridiculed Modi for engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the recent SCO summit.

He branded Modi’s outreach as “shameful,” accusing the Indian leader of aligning with authoritarian dictators despite being the elected head of the world’s largest democracy. Navarro insisted that New Delhi should be firmly aligned with Washington, Europe, and Ukraine, rather than deepening its ties with the Russia-China bloc.

His remarks underscored a growing sense of frustration in some US policy circles over India’s strategic hedging between democratic and authoritarian powers during the Ukraine conflict.

In contrast to Washington’s sharp criticism, Prime Minister Modi used his SCO address to emphasise India’s longstanding commitment to promoting connectivity among member states.

He argued that enhanced connectivity was essential not just for trade, but also for generating growth and strengthening mutual trust. For India, participation in forums like the SCO reflects a broader strategy of balancing engagement with both the West and non-Western powers, while safeguarding its independent foreign policy.

Taken together, Sullivan’s allegations, Bessent’s cautious optimism, Navarro’s criticism, and Modi’s measured multilateral diplomacy highlight the complexity of current US-India relations.

The friction underscores three interlinked themes—the impact of Trump’s personal business interests on American foreign policy, tensions over India’s stance on Russia, and Washington’s growing unease over India’s participation in non-Western forums such as the SCO.

While voices like Bessent’s suggest that mutual values and shared democratic foundations will ultimately stabilise the relationship, Sullivan and Navarro’s remarks point to serious strains in trust and alignment.

With the US increasingly focused on rallying democracies against Russia and China, India’s balancing act and Trump’s transactional decision-making introduce fresh uncertainty into one of the world’s most critical strategic partnerships.

Based On ANI Report