Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump sparked fresh controversy on Friday with a pointed post on Truth Social, declaring that the United States had “lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China.”
Trump shared an image from the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China, showing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. With the photo, Trump added a sarcastic note: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
Bolton Flags Fading Modi–Trump Bond
The post comes amid renewed scrutiny of Washington’s strained ties with New Delhi. Former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton recently claimed that the once-close personal rapport between Modi and Trump has evaporated.
“Trump had a very good personal relationship with Modi. I think that’s gone now, and it’s a lesson to everybody,” Bolton told Britain’s LBC, as quoted by India Today. Bolton served as Trump’s national security advisor between 2018 and 2019.
Tariffs at the Heart of Tensions
Relations have soured since the Trump administration imposed steep tariffs on India. Washington has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the legality of those measures, after a federal appeals court struck them down.
In legal filings, Trump’s team insisted the tariffs were vital to his “push for peace” in Ukraine, arguing that India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil undermines U.S. sanctions.
India Faces Record-High Duties
India now faces a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% levy on Russian oil imports—effectively placing a 50% duty on some Indian trade, among the highest in the world.
Trump has repeatedly accused New Delhi of indirectly aiding Moscow’s war in Ukraine by continuing energy deals with Russia.
