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Ex-US NSA Jake Sullivan hit out at Trump’s tariffs on India and said that America is being seen as a “disruptor” by the allies and as the nation that cannot be counted on.
India-US tensions: Ex-NSA slams Trump over India tariffs (Reuters Image)
Former National Security Adviser in the Biden administration, Jake Sullivan, slammed Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, stating that he forced New Delhi to “sit with China” to counter the trade offensive launched by America.
He said that the countries in the world, including American allies, view the US as a “disruptor” and as the nation that “can’t be counted on”.
His remarks come as the US’ “unjust” tariffs stirred tensions between New Delhi and Washington in recent weeks.
“When I go to these places now and I 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,” Sullivan said in The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller.
He praised China for projecting itself as a “responsible player at a global stage” and contrasted it with that of the US.
“China has moved ahead of the United States in popularity in a whole lot of countries. And that was not the case one year ago, where countries now are basically saying the US brand is in the toilet and China is looking like a responsible player,” he said.
Former US NSA Jake Sullivan- “THE AMERICAN BRAND GLOBALLY IS IN THE TOILET….”How to make Joker of ‘Oneself’ is an Art & only 2 Pappus excel in it. One is American & the other is an Italian who is a a British citizen but calls himself ‘Indian’. pic.twitter.com/nDzp5pJydQ
— BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) August 29, 2025
Citing India’s example, Sullivan said that both Republicans and Democrats tried to improve relations with India, however, Trump forced New Delhi to seek options in China.
“Take a look at India, as another example. Here’s a country that on a bipartisan basis, we were working and trying to build a deeper and more sustainable relationship with, and the China challenge loomed large in that. Now you have got President Trump executing a massive trade offensive against them, and the Indians are saying, ‘Well, I guess maybe we have to go show up in Beijing and sit with the Chinese because we got a hedge against America’,” he said.
Trump’s 50% tariffs on India came into effect on August 27. Out of this, 25% levies have been imposed due to New Delhi’s energy and defence ties with Moscow.
However, in a significant revelation, a report by a top American investment bank said that Trump slapped India with tariffs due to his “personal pique” at not being allowed by India to mediate in conflict with Pakistan back in May.
The Jefferies report said that Trump had “hoped to intervene” in the Operation Sindoor that India launched to strike back at Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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