Bolton explained that during Trump’s tenure, Washington was focused on two sensitive issues: tariff disputes and Trump’s claim of easing tensions between India and Pakistan after a terrorist attack in Kashmir. He added that open confrontations would have only complicated matters. Instead, India relied on back-channel diplomacy, which, in Bolton’s view, kept negotiations on track.

The former NSA also advised India to gradually reduce military and economic ties with Russia, noting Moscow’s growing alignment with Beijing. He cautioned that photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un sent mixed signals to Washington. Bolton urged India to prioritize long-term strategic interests.

On trade, Bolton noted that both India and the US had nearly reached an agreement before Trump suddenly raised tariffs by 25 percent. He criticized Trump’s unpredictable style, arguing it weakened America’s global credibility. Despite tensions, Trump later praised Modi as a “friend” and expressed optimism about resolving trade barriers.

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In a recent interview, Bolton explained that strategic meetings meant to cover global security concerns—such as the rise of China—were often sidetracked when Navarro shifted the focus to trade disputes. According to Bolton, Navarro pressed Trump to confront Modi over tariff and market access issues, portraying India as an unfair trading partner.

Bolton described Navarro as argumentative by nature, joking that if Navarro were left alone in a room, “he would start a fight with himself.” He said India should not take Navarro’s words too seriously, stressing that his interventions were more of a political sideshow than official U.S. policy.

Navarro, however, has consistently been vocal in his criticism of India’s economic policies. He has targeted New Delhi for purchasing discounted Russian crude oil, accusing it of indirectly supporting Moscow’s war in Ukraine. His tough statements—both in official meetings and on social media—often complicated India-U.S. negotiations at a time when Washington was seeking to deepen strategic ties with New Delhi.

Bolton urged Indian policymakers to look beyond Navarro’s combative rhetoric and focus instead on the broader U.S.–India relationship. He acknowledged that differences on trade would take time to resolve but emphasized that both countries had incentives to reach common ground.

The revelation sheds light on the internal divisions within the Trump administration over how to handle India. While Trump publicly praised Modi on several occasions, aides like Navarro pushed for a harder economic line, sometimes clashing with national security officials who prioritized strategic cooperation.

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