Modi Must Be Careful, Trump’s an Ignoramus | Jeffrey Sachs on India, U.S., China, Russia

Sachs minced no words, calling Trump “an ignoramus” and branding America “an unstable and untrustworthy nation.” He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to be swayed by Trump’s sudden flattery or promises of resumed trade talks, especially when steep tariffs remain in place.

According to Sachs, Washington’s political class has little genuine interest in India’s growth. Instead, he argued, the U.S. seeks to use India as a counterweight against Russia and China, without offering real partnership. He strongly advised New Delhi against relying on America for protection, pointing to its enduring ties with Pakistan and its volatile policy shifts.

Sachs suggested India focus on long-term stability by strengthening education, diversifying trade with Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and considering entry into the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). He also urged India to resolve tensions with China bilaterally rather than being pulled into U.S.-led strategic blocs like the Quad, which he described as a “naïve instrument of U.S. hegemony.”

As Barkha Dutt summed up, Sachs’s remarks underscore a larger truth: America’s support is transactional and unreliable. India must act with caution and resist being taken in by short-lived gestures of friendship from Washington.