Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Former United States National Security Advisor John Bolton has cautioned against any global framework that sidelines India, arguing that closer strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington is becoming increasingly essential amid China’s growing regional ambitions.
Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding a potential “G2” arrangement, Bolton said such an approach could undermine India’s role in shaping the Indo-Pacific balance. He described the idea as risky at a time when China’s expanding influence continues to generate security concerns across Asia.
Bolton pointed to Beijing’s activities in the South China Sea, the Taiwan Strait and along the Line of Actual Control with India as evidence that regional challenges are intensifying rather than diminishing. He maintained that these developments require coordinated responses from democratic partners instead of isolated national strategies.
The former US official also observed that trade has become a dominant theme in President Trump’s foreign policy engagements, often overshadowing broader geopolitical and security considerations. According to him, while economic issues remain important, strategic challenges posed by China’s long-term objectives demand equal attention.
Emphasising the value of the India-US relationship, Bolton said both countries share significant interests in maintaining stability and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. He added that addressing emerging security challenges through cooperation would be more effective than confronting them independently, as regional dynamics continue to evolve.
