The former official said Trump’s actions have made US allies view Washington as a disruptor that cannot be fully trusted. As a result, global leaders are now looking to reduce their dependence on the United States. He cited India as an example, noting that it is moving closer to China, with relations between the two countries improving for the first time since the 2020 Galwan clashes, while Beijing seeks deeper cooperation in the wake of Trump’s tariffs.
Trump has been facing both internal and external criticism in the US over his ‘punishing’ tariff on India. Several American financial experts have also spoken out against the move, pointing out that India is emerging as one of the world’s strongest economies and a major consumer market. They have argued that such tariffs could harm long-term US interests. National Security Adviser (NSA) to former President Joe Biden warned that such tariffs are making China look “more responsible” than the US. He said that Trump’s move against India will damage the reputation of the American brand.
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“China has moved ahead of the United States in popularity in a whole lot of countries, and that was not the case one year ago, where countries now are basically, you know, saying the US brand is in the toilet and China is looking like a more responsible player,” Sullivan told Tim Miller on The Bulwark podcast.
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“The #American brand globally is in the toilet” : Former US NSA Jake Sullivan.
“The #American brand globally is in the toilet” : Former US NSA Jake Sullivan pic.twitter.com/YcfvxTmzMz
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Sullivan, who was the Director of Policy in the Obama administration, underscored the dangers of such tariffs. According to him, this tariff will be pushing New Delhi closer to Beijing, which will be risky to the US. He also highlighted the strains in ties with India.
“We were working to try to build a deeper, sustainable relationship with India, and the China challenge loomed large in that. President Trump executed a massive trade offensive against them, and the Indians are saying, I guess maybe we have to go show up in Beijing and sit with the Chinese because we’ve got a hedge against America,” he said.
