Trump-Era Approach to India a “Big Mistake”: Ex-US Official

Spread love

Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo criticized the Trump administration for isolating America from key allies, saying weakened ties with Europe, Japan, and India undermine U.S. global strength.

By TRH Foreign Affairs Desk

New Delhi, October 28, 2025 —Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo delivered a sharp critique of the Trump administration’s foreign and economic policies, warning that the “America Alone” posture had damaged Washington’s credibility and weakened global alliances.

Speaking at a public forum at the Harvard Kennedy School, Raimondo said, “On my list of top 20 things that I would be critical of this administration for is kissing off all of our allies. America First is one thing. America Alone is a disastrous policy.”

Raimondo, who served under President Joe Biden before his 2025 election loss, argued that isolating America from traditional partners in Europe, Japan, Southeast Asia, and India has hurt both diplomatic and commercial interests.

“America that’s not a good friend or partner or ally to Europe, to Japan, is a weak America,” she said, adding: “I don’t think we can be effective without strong relationships with Europe or with much of Southeast Asia for that matter. And I wish that we would have much stronger commercial relationships with Europe.”

Highlighting the example of ASML, a key player in the global semiconductor supply chain, Raimondo noted how Washington’s trade and tech diplomacy faltered in building collaborative frameworks with allies. She added that the same neglect extended to India — a nation she described as a “missed strategic opportunity.”

“I think we’re making a big mistake with India,” Raimondo said, underscoring the importance of closer U.S.-India economic cooperation in the face of China’s rising technological influence.

Trump-Era Strains with Allies

During Trump’s first term (2017–2021), U.S. foreign policy saw a series of trade disputes and diplomatic strains with allies. In his second term, Trump repeatedly criticized NATO partners over defence spending, imposed tariffs on European steel and aluminum, and withdrew from key multilateral agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Paris Climate Accord.

India, once hailed as a cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific strategy, was not spared. The Trump administration ended India’s preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2019 and imposed tariff barriers that affected bilateral trade.

Analysts say those moves weakened U.S.-India engagement even as China’s influence in Asia grew. Raimondo’s remarks echo growing concerns among foreign policy experts that a renewed “America First” revival under Trump 2.0 could deepen global divisions and slow efforts to rebuild trust among democratic allies.

“At the end of the day,” Raimondo concluded, “we’re stronger when we work with our friends — not when we turn our backs on them.”