United States President Donald Trump on Friday remarked that India and Russia appear to have “been lost” to China, following the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting held in Tianjin, China. His statement pertains to recent geopolitical developments and SCO Summit, where India, Russian and China sent a strong message of cooperation and shifting global alliances.
What Did Trump Say?
Sharing a photo, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping together, Trump wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together! President Donald J. Trump.”
While the post signals that the recent exchange between the three world leaders has concerned Washington, Trump has wished a “long and prosperous future together” for India, Russia and China.
Trump’s statement also suggest concern over the deepening influence of China, whom he has referred to as “deepest” and “darkest” and its implications.
Trump’s Earlier Remark
Earlier on September 2, Trump’s remark, that came hours after PM Modi’s bilateral meeting with Russian President Putin on the sidelines of SCO Summit, had also hinted at his dissatisfaction with the ongoing developments.
In a post on Truth Social platform, Trump had described the India-U.S. relationship as a “one-sided disaster”. He stated, “What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us. In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest “client,” but we sell them very little – Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades. The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high Tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster! Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their Tariffs to nothing, but it’s getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!”
At SCO Summit In China: What Did The Leaders Say?
At the recently held SCO Summit in Tianjin, PM Modi, President Xi and President Putin called for enhanced cooperation in areas such as business, trade and regional development.
“The SCO is steadily increasing its influence in addressing international issues. National currencies are being used more widely in mutual settlements for trade among SCO countries. The pace of development of cooperation within the SCO is impressive,” stated Putin.
Meanwhile, the Chinese President, addressing the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO, called on the members to uphold fairness and justice while addressing the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. “We must promote a correct historical perspective on World War II, and oppose the Cold War mentality, block confrontation and bullying practices,” Xi said.
Addressing the Summit, PM Modi highlighted India’s approach to strengthening cooperation under the SCO framework. In this regard, he noted that India seeks greater action under three pillars – Security, Connectivity and Opportunity. Emphasising that peace, security and stability remain key to progress and prosperity, he called upon member countries to take firm and decisive action to fight terrorism in all its manifestations.
Notably, during the summit, PM Modi’s camaraderie with Putin was palpable as the two greeted each other with smiles and hugs. PM Modi also shared two photographs capturing these moments on his X handle.
Also Read: ‘Trump Could Lose Key Strategic Partner’, Ex-US Officials Warn Amid Tariff Tensions
