Trump claims loss of India and Russia to deep and dark China
In a controversial social media post, US President Donald Trump declared that America had "lost" India and Russia to China. The statement, made on Friday, was in response to India's perceived closeness to China, Russia, and other countries.
The comment indicates growing frustration with India's refusal to align with US policy priorities, particularly regarding Russia sanctions and market access issues. Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, criticised India's unwillingness to open markets to US exports, stop Russian energy purchases, and withdraw from Brics.
Lutnick predicted that India would soon seek negotiations with the Trump administration. He suggested that India, like Canada, would be forced to drop tariffs after initially taking a combative approach.
India's Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, defended India's energy security decisions, expressing outrage at the disrespect shown and the colonial justification in Trump's language. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will represent New Delhi at a virtual Brics summit next week, indicating a commitment to multilateral cooperation.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is coordinating the Brics response, following a phone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the fallout from Trump's 50% tariffs on both countries. Brazil and India have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade and energy sectors.
The senior White House commerce official backed Trump's stance, calling on India to "decide which side they want to be on". Randhir Jaiswal, the foreign minister spokesperson in New Delhi, had no comments when asked to react to Trump's post.
Trump's post came days after Prime Minister Modi's participation in a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, fuelling speculations about India's growing ties with China and Russia. Critics argue that the US administration's approach, including statements from trade adviser Peter Navarro, treasury secretary Scott Bessent, and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, has driven India towards closer cooperation with China and Russia.
Despite the tensions, India has maintained a balanced approach, emphasising its commitment to multilateral forums like Brics while also engaging with the US on various issues. The future negotiations between India and the US remain to be seen.
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