Former U.S. National Security Council official and foreign policy expert Lisa Curtis has criticized the recent decision by former President Donald Trump to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, calling it “shocking” and inconsistent with the strategic relationship between the two countries.

Curtis, who served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia during Trump’s first term, said she was surprised by the move — especially given that China, a U.S. strategic rival, has not faced similar tariffs despite also importing Russian oil.

“India is a strategic partner of the United States. China is a strategic rival. So, this really doesn’t make sense,” Curtis said in an exclusive interview.

She contrasted the current policy with Trump’s earlier approach, which aimed to deepen U.S.-India ties through mutual trust and strategic alignment. “During the first Trump term, we saw a concerted effort to elevate the relationship. This tariff decision reflects a very different tone,” she added.

Now a senior fellow and director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security, Curtis acknowledged that India significantly increased oil imports from Russia after the Ukraine crisis. However, she believes the Indian economy is strong enough to diversify its energy sources if needed.

She cautioned against reducing foreign policy to trade issues alone, stating, “Relationships are built on military, political, and strategic cooperation — not just tariffs.”

Looking ahead, Curtis remains hopeful that the upcoming U.S.-India trade negotiations in late August could lead to a deal and de-escalate tensions.

Despite current frictions, she emphasized India’s growing economic clout and its desire to maintain a strong relationship with the U.S.