New Delhi: Former US President Donald Trump triggered debate by posting on Truth Social: “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together.” His remarks followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in China, where he met President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin.
The optics of Modi standing alongside Xi and Putin created global buzz. But Trump’s frustration reflected deeper tensions — his administration’s 50% tariffs on Indian goods, critical comments from US officials, and a perception in Washington that New Delhi was tilting away from the West.
Why India Was Never “America’s to Lose”
India’s foreign policy has always been grounded in strategic autonomy. With Washington, it built a partnership of shared interests, not dependency. India valued its ties with the US but has never been in any power’s pocket. Trust issues run deep, from Washington’s support of Pakistan in the 1971 war to sanctions after the 1998 nuclear tests.
Though ties revived in the early 2000s, Trump’s tariffs and rhetoric eroded goodwill. His pursuit of political optics and a “peace broker” legacy overshadowed years of careful diplomacy.
Balancing China and Russia
India continues engaging China despite mistrust, particularly after the 2020 Galwan clashes. The SCO Summit was part of a cautious thaw. Modi met Xi but skipped the military parade, reflecting India’s balancing act — maintaining dialogue while safeguarding ties with Japan and other Indo-Pacific partners.
Russia remains vital in defence and energy. Over 50% of India’s military hardware is Russian, trade has surged past $68 billion, and joint ventures like BrahMos endure. Yet, India is diversifying suppliers and wary of Moscow’s dependence on Beijing.
The Trump Tariff Effect
Trump’s tariffs revived old doubts about US reliability. Navarro and Trump’s allies amplified criticism, calling out India’s Russia and China outreach. But India highlighted Western hypocrisy: the EU and even the US continue major energy imports from Moscow.
India’s Real Position
India is neither drifting east nor west — it is asserting independence. Strategic autonomy, rooted in Nehru’s non-alignment, remains the guiding principle. As diplomat KP Fabian observed: “India is a civilisational state. It wants friendship with everyone, but it cannot take dictation.”
Trump may believe the US “lost India,” but in reality, India was never his to lose.
