US National Security Advisor under the Biden administration, Jake Sullivan, has accused President Donald Trump of damaging America’s relationship with India to benefit his family’s business interests in Pakistan.
US Official Accuses Trump of Sacrificing India Ties
Speaking in an interview with MeidasTouch, a YouTube channel, Sullivan described Trump’s actions as a “huge strategic harm” to the United States. He explained that for decades, leaders from both Republican and Democratic parties had worked to strengthen ties with India, the world’s largest democracy.
According to Sullivan, India is an important partner for the United States in areas like technology, talent, and economics. He also highlighted that India’s role in dealing with the strategic challenge posed by China makes the relationship even more crucial.
Sullivan said that the two countries had made “significant progress” in building a strong partnership. However, Trump “threw it aside” when he turned toward Pakistan. The former NSA claimed this happened because Pakistan was willing to make business deals with the Trump family.
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He stated, “Because of Pakistan’s willingness to do business deals with the Trump family, Trump has thrown the India relationship over the side.”
Deterioration in India-US Relations
During President Trump’s administration, tensions between India and the United States grew. One key reason was Washington’s criticism of New Delhi for purchasing discounted crude oil from Russia. The US put pressure on India, while it avoided making similar statements against China and Europe, even though those regions are among the largest buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Trump also claimed credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after their recent military clashes. However, India consistently rejected these claims, saying the ceasefire was not brokered by the United States.
Sullivan emphasized that sacrificing ties with India created damage that went beyond just one relationship. According to him, when the US fails to honor its commitments, it sends a troubling message to other countries. He explained that if Washington could abandon India, other nations might wonder if they could be the next to face the same treatment.
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He added, “Our word should be our bond. We should be good for what we say. Our friends should be able to rely on us, and that has always been our strength. What’s happening with India right now has huge direct impacts. But it also has this reverberating impact across all our relationships and partnerships in the world.”
Sullivan made it clear that Trump’s actions were not only damaging to India but also harmful to the credibility of the United States in the eyes of the world.
Trump Family Ties Strengthen Pakistan Relationship
At the same time as relations with India cooled, the Trump administration appeared to strengthen ties with Pakistan. After years of limited engagement, Washington opened its doors again to Islamabad.
In a symbolic move, Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was welcomed to the White House. The discussions during his visit included trade, economic growth, and cryptocurrency development.
Days later, the Trump administration announced a new trade deal with Pakistan. As part of this, the US pledged to help Islamabad develop its “massive oil reserves.” In contrast, Indian exports to the US were hit with heavy tariffs, as Washington imposed 25 percent duties on Indian goods.
Earlier in April, World Liberty Financial Inc. (WLFI), a cryptocurrency company majority-owned by President Trump and his family, signed several agreements with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC). These deals aimed to boost investments and innovation in Pakistan’s crypto industry.
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The timing of these developments drew attention. On one side, US-India relations appeared to weaken. On the other side, Trump’s business and political connections with Pakistan seemed to deepen.
According to Sullivan, these choices came at the expense of America’s long-term partnership with India, and he described them as deeply harmful to US interests.