Trump Backed Pakistan Crypto While Raising Tariffs on India, Says Former US NSA Jake Sullivan

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A former US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, bluntly accused Donald Trump of damaging or undermining US-India ties to benefit the Trump family through Pakistan business. Sullivan called that decision a “huge strategic harm” to America’s global alliances rather than mere politics.

US-India Ties Built Over Decades

Sullivan explained that Washington worked for decades to build trust with India. Leaders from both parties supported the effort. He said India is the world’s largest democracy and a natural partner for the US.

Sullivan stressed that the United States had built its relationship with India through bipartisan effort for decades. That bond included cooperation on technology, talent, economy, and responding to the strategic threat from China. Sullivan said, “ Trump threw the India relationship over the side,” as Pakistan agreed to deals with his family’s ventures. Those deals included crypto ventures and energy talks.

Business Deals with Pakistan Raise Concerns

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Sullivan described this shift as not only a direct blow to the US-India partnership but also a signal to Germany, Japan, Canada, and others that the US cannot be trusted. That may push global peers to hedge against uncertainty. He warned that this uncertainty benefits rivals like China. India could move closer to Beijing to protect its own interests if the US becomes unreliable.

One major deal came in April when World Liberty Financial, a blockchain company linked to Trump’s family, signed an agreement with the Pakistan Crypto Council. Reports said the Trump family held a major stake in the company. That move came in April, days after a violent attack in Jammu and Kashmir prompted a brief India-Pakistan crisis. Simultaneously, the Trump administration relaxed pressure on Pakistan even as it raised tariffs on India.

The deal pushed Pakistan’s crypto industry forward, but it also raised questions about Trump’s foreign policy choices.

Strained Ties and Global Trust at Stake

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At the same time, Trump welcomed trade talks with Pakistan and even promised help in developing its oil reserves. By July, he announced a trade agreement with Islamabad while also threatening steep tariffs on Indian goods. This created more tension between Washington and New Delhi.

Sullivan warned that weakening trust in America harms not only bilateral trust with India but also global credibility. US partners may doubt that “our word is our bond” anymore. That shift might boost adversaries such as China at a time when strategic alliances matter more than ever. He stressed that trust is America’s greatest strength. Friends should rely on the US to keep its word. He said losing this trust will harm America’s influence across the world.

In his view, Trump’s focus on family business and Pakistan business interests caused real damage. The result is not just strained relations with India but a wider loss of confidence among partners who once believed in America’s promises.