Former US NSA Jake Sullivan Accuses Trump of Sacrificing India Ties for Family Business in Pakistan

In a sharp rebuke of former U.S. President Donald Trump, ex-National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has alleged that Trump sidelined America’s growing relationship with India in order to pursue his family’s business interests in Pakistan.

Sullivan, speaking in a recent interview, said that Pakistan’s willingness to strike business deals with the Trump family became a decisive factor in shaping U.S. policy, at the cost of strategic cooperation with India. “Pakistan's willingness to do business deals with the Trump family has sidelined the India relationship. A strong US-India relationship serves our interests. Now, because of Trump, America's other friends will feel they can’t rely on us in any way,” Sullivan remarked.

For decades, Washington had built a bipartisan strategy to strengthen ties with New Delhi—covering defense, technology, trade, and cooperation in countering China’s rise in Asia. According to Sullivan, this long-term effort was undermined during Trump’s presidency when personal financial considerations began to outweigh strategic priorities.

The former NSA also criticized Trump’s tariff policies that heavily targeted Indian goods, raising duties up to 50 percent, while Pakistan faced far lower tariffs. Many observers saw this imbalance as further evidence of Trump’s tilt away from India.

Sullivan warned that such moves extend beyond the Indo-U.S. corridor, damaging America’s global credibility. “Imagine being Germany, Japan, or Canada and thinking—‘that could be us tomorrow’,” he said, noting that countries worldwide may now hedge against American unpredictability.

The criticism comes at a delicate moment, with India reassessing its foreign policy options while reiterating its stance of “strategic autonomy.” Analysts believe this rift could weaken broader U.S. initiatives in the Indo-Pacific, including the Quad alliance with India, Japan, and Australia, ultimately benefiting China’s influence in the region.

Sullivan concluded that Trump’s approach has put America’s brand at risk globally. “The American brand is in the toilet,” he said, pointing to declining trust in the U.S. among its closest allies.

The remarks have ignited debate in policy circles about how deeply personal business ties may have influenced one of Washington’s most important strategic relationships, and whether this damage can be repaired.