US President Donald Trump said on Friday that India and Russia appear to have “been lost” to China after the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin this week. His remarks followed a highly visible display of camaraderie between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sharing a photo of the Modi-Xi-Putin trio, Trump wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Moreover, the comment came just days after the SCO meeting, widely seen as a signal against Trump’s aggressive trade policies.

US-India Trade Tensions Worsen

Relations between India and the US have deteriorated after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, one of the highest rates for any country. Earlier this week, he called the US-India trade relationship a “one sided disaster” and highlighted the imbalance.

Trump stated, “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. They sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest ‘client,’ but we sell them very little… a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades.”

Additionally, the US has criticized India for importing oil from Russia, which contributed to the higher tariffs. Meanwhile, trade negotiations between the two nations continue, with discussions ongoing for several weeks.

Former US Officials Criticize Trump’s Approach

Several former US officials argue that Trump’s policies pushed India closer to China. Former National Security Adviser John Bolton said the “once-strong personal rapport” between Modi and Trump no longer exists, blaming the US President for setting back bilateral ties by decades.

Similarly, former National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated that Trump’s “massive trade offensive” forced India to align more closely with China. He added, “Allies now see the US as a ‘big disruptor,’ while China appears more credible globally. China has moved ahead of the United States in popularity in a whole lot of countries. That was not the case one year ago. Countries now are basically saying the US brand is in the toilet, and China is looking like a responsible player.”

A Turning Point in Global Relations

Trump’s comments and the SCO summit highlight the growing challenges in US-India relations. As India balances its ties between Washington and Beijing, trade and geopolitical pressures will play a critical role in shaping the next phase of international diplomacy.