• Donald Trump criticized India and Russia for their perceived alignment with China.
• Trump claimed to have "lost" India and Russia to Beijing after recent leader meetings.
• India's Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed the importance of US-India relations despite tensions.
• High tariffs on Indian goods, related to oil imports, have added strain to bilateral ties.
• Modi emphasized that India and the US maintain a "very positive" strategic partnership.

US President Donald Trump expressed his concerns on September 5 about India and Russia, stating they seem to have been "lost" to China during a post on his social media platform. Accompanying his remarks was a photo of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin standing alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China. "Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Trump proclaimed, reflecting his frustration with the current global alliance dynamics, according to Dawn and Reuters.

In response, Modi's office stated that it did not wish to comment on Trump's remarks. The Indian foreign ministry emphasized the ongoing importance of its relationship with the United States, underscoring shared democratic values and strategic interests. As Modi returned from the SCO summit, where he met Xi and Putin, it became clear that India's approach to foreign policy is not solely dictated by American interests, as evidenced by his planned continuation of imports from Russia, highlighted by India Times and Newsweek.

Trump later sought to mitigate the fallout from his comments by asserting that he does not believe the U.S. has lost India. He reiterated his view that he would always consider Modi a friend, while expressing disappointment over India's Russian oil purchases. Trump stated, "India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about," which was reported by Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Heightening tensions, the U.S. has imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on certain Indian imports due to concerns over the influence of Russia amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine. These tariffs were met with criticism from Modi's government, which deemed them as "unfair" and detrimental to Indian exporters. Modi emphasized the significance of the India-U.S. partnership, stating, "This relationship between the United States and India is very important for us," according to India Times and Al Jazeera.

Despite the visible strain, both leaders acknowledged the ongoing importance of their respective roles in global politics. Modi's recent visit to China, his first in seven years, further illustrates India's complex diplomatic balancing act, navigating relations among major powers while maintaining its sovereignty and strategic interests. The recent exchanges signal a desire to address misunderstandings even as significant geopolitical shifts unfold globally, as noted by Dawn and TRT Global.