Washington, September 5, 2025: US President Donald Trump has raised alarm over what he described as a realignment of global alliances, warning that India and Russia are drifting closer to China following the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”
The remark accompanied a photograph of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping standing side by side at the summit — with Modi and Putin sharing a laugh as Xi looked on.
The image quickly went viral, sparking debates in Washington and beyond about whether the SCO gathering reflected a deeper geopolitical shift. Analysts noted that closer ties between the three powers could complicate US efforts to maintain influence in Asia and Eurasia.
While avoiding a direct comment on Trump’s statement, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the continuing importance of New Delhi’s relationship with Washington.
“This relationship between the United States and India is very important for us. Both our countries share a comprehensive global strategic partnership, anchored in shared interests, democratic values, and strong people-to-people ties,” Jaiswal told reporters in New Delhi on Friday.
He added that the partnership has “weathered several transitions and challenges” and said India remains focused on advancing a substantive bilateral agenda.
Trump’s concerns come amid mounting trade tensions, with his administration recently slapping 50% tariffs on Indian imports — a move partly linked to New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil. India has denounced the tariffs as “unfair” but insists it is committed to keeping dialogue open.
The SCO summit highlighted growing coordination between countries often at odds with Washington. While New Delhi continues to emphasize its strategic autonomy, the optics of Modi, Putin, and Xi together have fueled speculation that China is emerging as the central pillar of a new power bloc.
