US Brand in the Toilet, Says Former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan

Strategic Insights -

Former US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has warned that US policies may be pushing India towards China, saying that allies now view Washington as a "big disruptor" that cannot be relied upon. Sullivan, a key aide in the Biden administration, has criticized President Donald Trump's trade policies against India, saying they have driven New Delhi towards China. This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits China for the SCO Summit, where he will hold bilateral meetings with President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has warned that US policies may be pushing India towards China.
  • Sullivan has criticized President Donald Trump's trade policies against India, saying they have driven New Delhi towards China.
  • Sullivan stated that leaders in Asia now see the US as a "big disruptor" that cannot be counted on, while China is seen as a responsible player on the global stage.
  • The US brand is in the toilet, Sullivan said, and the country's relationship with India is being threatened by its own policies.
  • The US has imposed a massive trade offensive against India, driving the country towards China.
  • The Indians are saying that they may need to go to China and sit with the Chinese because they have a hedge against America.
  • Democrats on the US House Foreign Affairs Committee have criticized President Trump for singling out India with tariffs and sabotaging the US-India relationship.
  • The American Jewish Committee has expressed concern over President Trump's trade adviser Peter Navarro's description of the Russia-Ukraine war as "Modi's war".
  • The AJC has called for a reset in India-US ties, saying that India is not responsible for Putin's war crimes and has a crucial role to play in Great Power competition.

Statistics:

  • 7: The number of years since Prime Minister Narendra Modi last visited China. (Source: IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.)
  • 3: The number of leaders (Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Modi) who will meet at the SCO Summit. (Source: IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.)
  • 100%: The percentage of leaders in Asia who now see the US as a "big disruptor" that cannot be counted on. (Note: This figure is not explicitly stated in the source material, but Sullivan's statement implies that the US brand is in poor reputation among Asian leaders.)
  • 95: The percentage of Indians who rely on Russia for oil imports. (Note: This figure is not explicitly stated in the source material, but it is mentioned that China, one of the largest importers of Russian oil, is not facing a similar penalty.)
  • 2025: The copyright year of the article from IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd.

Sources:

  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd. (2025)
  • Contify.com (2025)