Former NSA John Bolton stated that the personal friendship between Trump and Modi has ended. The India-US relationship has reached its lowest point in two decades due to tariff disputes and American criticism.
Trump-Modi Friendship: Former US National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton has made a significant statement regarding India-US relations. He believes that the era of friendship between Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where bilateral ties appeared to be strengthened due to their personal relationship, has now passed. Bolton clearly stated that personal relationships are always temporary, and ultimately, the strategic interests of countries prove to be paramount.
Bolton on Trump-Modi Friendship
In an interview, Bolton recalled that the closeness between Trump and Modi was once a topic of discussion in international politics. The 'Howdy Modi' rally held in America and Trump's visit to India had further solidified that friendship, which was even termed a "Bromance" at the time. However, the situation has changed today, and that personal equation no longer holds any significance.
Bolton said that leaders should understand that personal friendships are only effective up to a certain extent. In the long run, the foundation of any relationship rests solely on mutual strategic decisions and policies.
Tariff Dispute Worsened Relations
The tariff dispute has emerged as the primary reason for the deterioration in India-US relations. According to Bolton, the relationship between the two countries has reached its lowest point in the past two decades due to tariffs. The US administration has been consistently criticizing India's trade policies and tariff structure, further souring the relations.
Bolton asserts that for any US President, not just Trump, trade and strategic decisions take precedence over personal relationships.
Trump's Perspective on Personal Relations
The former NSA also commented on Donald Trump's approach to foreign policy. He stated that Trump often views international relations through the lens of personal equations between leaders. As an example, Bolton mentioned that if Trump has a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he assumes that US-Russia relations are equally good. However, this perspective is not always accurate in international politics.
Warning for British Prime Minister Too
John Bolton also issued a warning to the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He said it would be a mistake to believe that international complexities can be managed solely through personal friendships. Personal equations can help for a while, but it is not possible to avoid difficult and hard decisions.
Indications of Shifting Priorities
Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) summit held in China. This meeting is being seen as an indication of India's shifting priorities. Experts suggest that India no longer wants to base its foreign policy solely on the US but is working towards strengthening multilateral relations.
The Journey from "Howdy Modi" to Today
The "Howdy Modi" rally held in Houston, USA, in 2019 captured global attention. At that time, the rapport between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump was hailed as a golden chapter in India-US relations. However, circumstances have completely changed within a few years. Neither the same personal warmth nor the same political atmosphere exists anymore.
