Trump’s personal rapport with PM Modi is gone, says former US NSA John Bolton; warns ties won’t shield leaders from US president’s ‘worst’

In a surprising revelation, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has claimed that the shut personal relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a factor of the previous. “Trump had a very good relationship personally with Modi. I think that’s gone now, and it’s a lesson to everybody, for example, (UK Prime Minister) Keir Starmer, that a good personal relationship may help at times, but it won’t protect you from the worst,” Bolton mentioned bluntly, signaling a break in what was as soon as a sturdy diplomatic partnership.Bolton, who has been outspoken in his criticism of Trump, warned world leaders that their personal ties with the American president wouldn’t defend them from his risky and unpredictable international coverage choices.Bolton’s remarks, made in a current interview with British media outlet LBC, come amid what is arguably probably the most strained intervals in India-US relations in over twenty years. According to Bolton, Trump’s method to worldwide diplomacy was closely influenced by his personal relationships with world leaders, however such ties wouldn’t shield them from Trump’s shifting priorities and insurance policies.“I think Trump sees international relations through the prism of his personal relationships with leaders,” Bolton defined. “So, if he has a good relationship with Vladimir Putin, the US has a good relationship with Russia. That’s obviously not the case.”Bolton’s feedback have added gasoline to the fireplace of rising tensions between India and the US, significantly in mild of Trump’s contentious tariff insurance policies and frequent public criticism of India’s commerce practices throughout his presidency. The relationship between Modi and Trump was as soon as seen as a key pillar of the “stronger” ties between the 2 nations, however Bolton’s remarks recommend that even this personal rapport could now not maintain sway.The fall of a diplomatic bondThe personal camaraderie between Trump and Modi, typically highlighted throughout state visits and joint appearances, was extensively seen as a diplomatic success for each leaders. Trump even referred to Modi as a “great friend” on a number of events, with their shared affinity for nationalism and robust management shaping their interactions.However, based on Bolton, that personal connection is now not sufficient to guard India from the US’s shifting geopolitical priorities.Bolton’s warning to different world leadersBolton, a staunch critic of Trump’s international coverage, warned different world leaders, together with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, {that a} sturdy personal relationship with Trump may present non permanent advantages, however finally won’t shield them from the “worst” of his decision-making.“It’s a lesson to everybody, whether it’s Keir Starmer, or any other world leader—that a good personal relationship may help at times, but it won’t protect you from the worst,” Bolton emphasised, hinting on the unpredictable nature of Trump’s diplomatic method.This newest perception from Bolton provides to a rising physique of criticism in opposition to the former president’s dealing with of worldwide relations, significantly his “America First” coverage, which regularly disregarded conventional diplomatic norms in favor of extra transactional, and at instances erratic, dealings.A tense second in India-US relationsThe US-India relationship, lengthy marked by cooperation and mutual profit, has confronted important challenges throughout and after Trump’s tenure. The imposition of tariffs, alongside with Trump’s criticism of India’s commerce and financial insurance policies, contributed to a way of disillusionment in New Delhi. While Modi and Trump maintained a seemingly sturdy personal rapport, the diplomatic fallout from their insurance policies can’t be ignored.The current second marks a time of recalibration within the India-US relationship, as India seeks to strengthen its ties with different world powers whereas navigating a post-Trump world order.