According to former US National Security Adviser John Bolton, the personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was once very strong, has now deteriorated. Bolton cautioned that world leaders should not rely on close personal ties with the American leader, as such relationships "won't protect" them from the "worst" outcomes.
Bolton's comments were made in the context of what is possibly the most difficult period in US-India relations in over two decades. The strain has been particularly intensified by Trump's tariff policies and persistent criticism of New Delhi by his administration.
In an interview with the media, Bolton explained his perspective on Trump's approach to foreign policy. "I think Trump sees international relations through the prism of his personal relations with leaders. So if he has a good relationship with Vladimir Putin, the US has a good relationship with Russia. That's obviously not the case," he stated.
Bolton, who served as NSA during the first Trump administration, has been a vocal critic of his former boss. He highlighted the relationship with Modi as an example of the fleeting nature of these personal bonds.
"Trump had a very good relationship personally with Modi. I think that's gone now, and it's a lesson to everybody, for example, (UK Prime Minister) Keir Starmer, that a good personal relationship may help at times, but it won't protect you from the worst," he said.
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Trump is scheduled to visit the UK from September 17 to 19.
In a social media post accompanying the interview, Bolton further elaborated on his concerns, stating that the White House has "set US-India relations back decades, pushing Modi closer to Russia and China." He noted that "Beijing has cast itself as an alternative to the US and Donald Trump."
The former NSA argued that Trump's recent actions towards India have undermined years of bipartisan US efforts aimed at two key goals: weaning New Delhi away from its Cold War-era alignment with Russia and ensuring that Indian policymakers across the political spectrum recognise China as their primary security challenge.
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"That has been reversed. I think it can be reversed again, but it's a very bad moment," he lamented.
Bolton has previously criticised the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on India for its purchase of Russian oil, describing the move as an "unforced error" that may have pushed New Delhi closer to the Beijing-Moscow axis.
It was also reported that Bolton's home in Maryland and his office in Washington were recently searched by the FBI as part of a criminal investigation into the alleged mishandling of classified material.
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