Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has made one of his sharpest comments yet on shifting global alignments, claiming that Washington has “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.” The remark came in a Truth Social post after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin earlier this week.
Trump’s Social Media Remark
“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote, underscoring his frustration at the visible convergence among the three powers.
Deepening Trilateral Ties
The SCO summit marked PM Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, significant given the 2020 Galwan Valley clash and ongoing border tensions. Modi’s meetings with Xi and Putin highlighted cooperation in energy, trade, and security — signaling India’s focus on strategic autonomy rather than alignment with any single bloc.
US Concerns Over India’s Russia, China Links
For decades, Washington positioned India as a counterweight to China’s influence, with both Republican and Democratic administrations investing in stronger ties. Trump himself courted New Delhi during his first term, famously appearing with Modi at the 2019 Howdy Modi rally in Houston and pushing the Quad grouping with Japan and Australia.
But relations have cooled since Trump’s return to office:
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He imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods (25% reciprocal plus 25% targeting Russian oil imports).
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He accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying discounted Russian crude.
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He argued that trade ties are “one-sided,” claiming India buys most of its oil and military equipment from Russia, not the US.
Jaishankar Counters Trump’s Claims
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pushed back, pointing out that China and the EU also remain major buyers of Russian oil, yet Washington has not applied the same criticism or penalties to them.
Strategic Autonomy at Forefront
Analysts say Modi’s outreach to Xi and Putin demonstrates India’s intent to balance relations with multiple global powers, even amid tensions with China and disagreements with Russia. Trump’s remarks highlight Washington’s unease as India, Russia, and China publicly display closer coordination on energy, trade, and geopolitical issues.
