Donald Trump claimed — via a post on his social media platform Truth Social — that the United States has effectively “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China,” expressing a hint of sarcastic farewell: “May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
The remarks came shortly after the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, where a striking display of camaraderie unfolded between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their visible warmth captured global headlines and raised concerns about shifting international alliances.
Trump’s comments also follow a recent escalatory move by his administration: doubling tariffs on Indian imports to a staggering 50 percent. Among the increases is a specific 25 percent duty imposed on India’s procurement of Russian crude oil. These measures signal a notable strain in US–India relations, which, according to Trump, appear to be deteriorating faster than expected.
This downturn in bilateral relations contrasts sharply with the evolving trilateral closeness among India, Russia, and China. Trump’s message seems to lament Washington’s declining influence as these nations appear to gravitate toward Beijing’s orbit. The implication: in the realms of diplomacy and trade, the US is losing ground when it comes to India and Russia — a development the former president framed as a painful acknowledgment.
Overall, Trump’s post underscores growing apprehension over geopolitical realignments, vividly captured by the spotlight on Modi–Xi–Putin unity and Washington’s aggressive tariff strategies — gestures that have fueled speculation about the future direction of global alliances.