Prime Minister Modi engages in bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump on G7 sidelines in France NEW DELHI: Former US national security advisor John Bolton has warned against any move towards a US-China “G2” framework. He said that it would amount to a “dangerous sidelining” of India at a time when Washington and New Delhi need closer strategic cooperation to counter China’s growing influence.His remarks came amid MAGA supremo Donald Trump’s new “G2″ framework that places the United States and China at the centre of the global order. However, Bolton rejected his former boss’s vision, referring to India’s growing importance.Speaking to news agency ANI, Former Trump aide rejected suggestions that the world is moving towards a US-China-led order and stressed that India must remain central to the Indo-Pacific strategy.”I think it’s a dangerous sidelining of India,” he said.Bolton argued that tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and along the Line of Actual Control highlight the scale of the challenge posed by Beijing, making stronger India-US ties increasingly important.”China’s aspirations for hegemony along the Indo-Pacific periphery are really one of the major issues, if not the major issue of the 21st century, which is why it seems to me that closer relations between India and the United States are so critical,” he said.The former Trump administration official also called for a deeper strategic dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump focused on China rather than trade disputes.”And what I really hope comes for the first time is a strategic discussion between Trump and Modi on how to deal with the Chinese threat. It always, in the past, in the first term and so far in Trump’s second term, gets lost in a discussion of trade issues,” he said.Bolton’s remarks came after PM Modi and Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. While he said the meeting did not appear to produce major deliverables, he described it as an important opportunity for the two leaders to reconnect.”Well, it’s not clear that very much constructive came out of it, any deliverables, as they say, but I do think it was important for Trump and Modi to meet again. Trump has always believed he has a good personal relationship with Modi, and I am hoping that the trade issues, the tariff issues, can be put behind us,” Bolton said.He also criticised Trump’s tariff policy, saying it had been unfairly applied to India and risked distracting both countries from broader strategic concerns.”I personally am opposed to Trump’s tariff program. I think it’s a big mistake around the world. From the US perspective, it’s been particularly unfairly applied to India, much more so than to China,” he said.Bolton further advocated a stronger role for the Quad grouping comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia, saying cooperation should go beyond diplomacy and include intelligence-sharing, military coordination and broader security engagement.”We either address it together, or we’re going to have to address it separately, which is not ideal,” he said.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia-U.S. Interim Trade Deal Nears Finish Line, Key U.S. Official To Visit Next Week | Watch’Priya Mitra Narendra’: Macron’s Hindi Message To Modi Caps High-Profile France VisitExplained: India’s Telegram Ban Ahead of NEET Re-Exam; Necessary Step or Pointless Move?Football Legend’s Kolkata Tour Mismanagement Still Under Scanner; Accountability Questions GrowHow Jewar Airport Changed The Region: MLA Dhirendra Singh On Jobs, Investment And GrowthPunjab CM Bhagwant Mann Claims Forensic Reports Vindicate Him In ‘Sacrilege’ Video RowUBT Crisis Deepens as Raut Claims Rebel MPs Got More Cash and Moved to Safe LocationBJP Leader Burnt Alive, 2 Others Killed Over Sand Mining Clash In ChhattisgarhCalcutta High Court Refuses Interim Relief to TMC, Ritabrata Banerjee Stays Leader of OppositionSix Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Stay Away From Delhi Meet, Uddhav Camp on Edge As Defection Buzz Intensifies123PhotostoriesFrom Batik to Block Prints: 10 incredible destinations every textile lover should visit at least once60-second money lesson: The ₹500 challenge that could help you build over ₹1 lakhDoctor explains what happens to your body when you practice yoga for 20 minutes every dayFather’s Day 2026: The funniest dad habits we all grew up with and secretly miss today8 South Indian breakfast dishes other than idli and dosaQuote of the day by Sadhguru: “If you live your life striving for the highest possibility, in that striving itself, there is liberation”; how working the hardest for achieving your ‘best’ is actual freedom5 giant aquarium fish that bring life and personality to your tank5 bedtime shlokas for children to end the day with positive thoughts and sleep peacefullyInside Mark Zuckerberg’s watch collection: From a $120 Casio G-Shock to a $2 million J.P. 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NEW DELHI: Former US national security advisor John Bolton has warned against any move towards a US-China “G2” framework. He said that it would amount to a “dangerous sidelining” of India at a time when Washington and New Delhi need closer strategic cooperation to counter China’s growing influence.His remarks came amid MAGA supremo Donald Trump’s new “G2” framework that places the United States and China at the centre of the global order. However, Bolton rejected his former boss’s vision, referring to India’s growing importance.Speaking to news agency ANI, Former Trump aide rejected suggestions that the world is moving towards a US-China-led order and stressed that India must remain central to the Indo-Pacific strategy.“I think it’s a dangerous sidelining of India,” he said.Bolton argued that tensions in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and along the Line of Actual Control highlight the scale of the challenge posed by Beijing, making stronger India-US ties increasingly important.“China’s aspirations for hegemony along the Indo-Pacific periphery are really one of the major issues, if not the major issue of the 21st century, which is why it seems to me that closer relations between India and the United States are so critical,” he said.The former Trump administration official also called for a deeper strategic dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump focused on China rather than trade disputes.“And what I really hope comes for the first time is a strategic discussion between Trump and Modi on how to deal with the Chinese threat. It always, in the past, in the first term and so far in Trump’s second term, gets lost in a discussion of trade issues,” he said.Bolton’s remarks came after PM Modi and Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. While he said the meeting did not appear to produce major deliverables, he described it as an important opportunity for the two leaders to reconnect.“Well, it’s not clear that very much constructive came out of it, any deliverables, as they say, but I do think it was important for Trump and Modi to meet again. Trump has always believed he has a good personal relationship with Modi, and I am hoping that the trade issues, the tariff issues, can be put behind us,” Bolton said.He also criticised Trump’s tariff policy, saying it had been unfairly applied to India and risked distracting both countries from broader strategic concerns.“I personally am opposed to Trump’s tariff program. I think it’s a big mistake around the world. From the US perspective, it’s been particularly unfairly applied to India, much more so than to China,” he said.Bolton further advocated a stronger role for the Quad grouping comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia, saying cooperation should go beyond diplomacy and include intelligence-sharing, military coordination and broader security engagement.“We either address it together, or we’re going to have to address it separately, which is not ideal,” he said.
