Lost India & Russia to ‘deepest, darkest’ China: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump has triggered a fresh storm in global diplomacy with his latest comment on India and Russia’s ties with China. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed, “It looks like we have lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

SCO Summit Sends a Message

Trump’s remark came in the backdrop of the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. The summit showcased a rare moment of bonhomie among Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The optics of this trilateral warmth have drawn global attention, fuelling speculation about deepening ties between the three nations.

Trade Tensions Strain Ties

Relations between Washington and New Delhi are currently under strain, with Trump’s trade policies at the centre of the friction. Recently, the US administration doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, a move that New Delhi has strongly criticized. Trump also imposed an additional 25% duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil, a step seen as directly challenging India’s energy strategy.

A Downturn in Relations

Experts suggest that ties between the US and India are passing through perhaps their worst phase in two decades. While New Delhi continues to balance its ties with Moscow and Beijing, Washington has voiced concerns about India’s growing closeness to its strategic rivals.

Trump’s sharp words underline the shifting sands of global geopolitics, where trade, energy, and alliances are being redefined, and India finds itself at the center of the storm.