In a striking statement early Friday morning, U.S. President Donald Trump took to social media to voice his frustration over growing camaraderie between India, Russia, and China. At 6:14 a.m. EST, Trump posted: “Looks like we’ve lost India, Russia to the deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together.”
The tweet follows the latest Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, where images of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping together sparked concern within Washington. Photographs of Modi and Putin traveling in the same car and engaging in lengthy conversations further fueled speculation about a closer strategic alignment.
The U.S. administration, already entangled in trade disputes with Beijing, has been wary of New Delhi’s energy purchases from Moscow. Trump previously talked about imposing steep tariffs on India over its decision to buy Russian oil.
It is believed that Trump’s reaction underscores Washington’s unease with the possibility of the three major powers forging a stronger partnership. Such a bloc, they warn, could challenge U.S. economic interests and alter global geopolitical balances at a time of heightened trade tensions.
