New Delhi, May 15, 2026 — Former CIA analyst Larry Johnson told ANI that the United States has treated India in a racially condescending way on economic matters and has behaved like a bully rather than a collaborative partner. In the interview, Johnson argued that India deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council because of its size and importance.
Johnson said U.S. demands — including expecting other countries to purchase U.S. Treasuries to fund America’s spending — amount to coercion. He described the U.S. approach toward India as “racist” and “condescending,” and said India has been treated as if it were merely a token tied to Great Britain. He also pointed to recent economic confrontations between the two countries as evidence of that attitude.
On sanctions and economic pressure, Johnson asked listeners to consider a role reversal: if India imposed similar restrictions on the United States, he argued, Washington would not accept them. “Who do you think you are?” he said, adding that India’s reaction is therefore understandable. He framed these dynamics as part of a broader historical shift: the decline of a centuries-long colonial order and the emergence of a new global balance in which countries of the Global South will play a leading role.
Johnson’s comments come as India chairs the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting. The U.S. has expressed concerns about potential moves by BRICS members toward “de-dollarisation,” a charge India has consistently denied. On August 14, 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs said that de-dollarisation is not part of India’s financial agenda; MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that India’s position on the issue has been made clear.
(This report is based on an ANI interview and is published via a syndicated feed. The Tribune publishes the content as received and assumes no responsibility for its accuracy or completeness.)
