Trump says US has lost India and Russia to China, hints at worsening ties; India declines to comment
'Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!', says Trump
PTC Web Desk: US President Donald Trump on Friday hinted at worsening ties between Washington and New Delhi, saying the United States has “lost” India and Russia to China. His remarks came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen together at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.
Sharing a photo of Modi with Xi and Putin on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump wrote: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declined to comment on Trump’s post during a press briefing, saying: “We don’t have anything to comment on Trump’s post as of now.”
Trump’s comments follow remarks by former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who suggested that Modi’s once-strong personal rapport with Trump had ended.
“Trump had a very good relationship personally with Modi. I think that’s gone now, and it’s a lesson to everybody,” Bolton told British outlet LBC. He added that while personal ties may help leaders at times, they cannot prevent diplomatic or economic rifts.
The Modi-Trump partnership, which once made global headlines during events like the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston and Modi’s state visits to Washington, now appears to have collapsed.
Tariff war at the centre of tensions
India-US ties have taken a sharp hit in recent months, mainly due to Trump’s tariff policies. Last month, his administration imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods—a 25% base duty and another 25% levy—over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
The US accused India of funding Russia’s war in Ukraine by buying crude and reselling it for profit. India has rejected the claims, arguing that affordable Russian oil is essential for its energy security and in the best interest of its people.
Trump has also announced tariffs as high as 145% on China, though their implementation has been delayed by 90 days. Analysts believe these moves are pushing India, Russia, and China closer together.