New Delhi, August 30, 2025 : Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan has delivered a scathing critique of President Donald Trump’s aggressive trade policies towards India, warning that Washington’s global image is suffering while New Delhi edges closer to Beijing.

Speaking on The Bulwark Podcast with Tim Miller, Sullivan said Trump’s imposition of sweeping tariffs on Indian exports was a shortsighted move that could erode years of bipartisan efforts to strengthen US-India ties.

“The American brand globally is in the toilet. Look at India. Trump has executed a massive trade offensive against them. Now, India is thinking, shit, we have to go sit down with China to hedge against America,” Sullivan remarked.

His comments follow Washington’s decision to double tariffs on Indian exports to 50 per cent, effective August 27, the highest duty currently imposed on any country. The move is expected to hit critical sectors such as textiles, jewellery, and mechanical appliances, raising concerns about growth and job losses in India.

Sullivan argued that Trump’s approach undermines years of strategic partnership building. For decades, US administrations from both political parties worked to deepen relations with New Delhi, particularly as part of a larger strategy to counter China’s rising influence. However, the former NSA warned that Trump’s actions risk undoing that progress.

“Here’s a country we were trying to build a deeper and more sustainable relationship with. Instead, because of these tariffs, India now feels compelled to explore closer engagement with China,” Sullivan said.

According to him, many traditional US allies and partners increasingly view Washington as “a big disruptor” rather than a reliable global leader, while Beijing is steadily gaining diplomatic ground. India, he said, is a prime example of this shifting perception.

The tariffs come amid escalating tensions between Washington and New Delhi over India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil, despite Western sanctions on Moscow following the Ukraine war. Trump has defended the trade measures as retaliation against what he calls India’s “indirect support” for Russia’s war effort.

However, a recent report by investment banking firm Jefferies suggested the escalation may also be tied to Trump’s personal frustrations. The firm noted that Trump was denied a mediating role in the India-Pakistan conflict earlier this year, which reportedly soured his attitude towards New Delhi. Agriculture disputes between the two nations have further added to the friction.

Sullivan’s remarks underline the growing unease within US policy circles over the long-term consequences of Trump’s tariff-heavy strategy. Analysts warn that by alienating India—a key partner in the Indo-Pacific—the United States could weaken its own ability to balance China’s expanding influence in the region.

For New Delhi, the tariffs present both an economic and diplomatic challenge. While Indian officials have condemned Washington’s actions as “hypocritical and unfair,” the measures are already pushing policymakers to seek alternative trade partners, with Russia and China emerging as immediate options.

As global power dynamics continue to shift, experts believe the fallout from Washington’s tariff war with India could reshape alliances and strategic equations in Asia for years to come.