US President Donald Trump on Friday walked back his earlier claim that the United States had “lost India to China,” saying he does not believe that to be the case, though he voiced disappointment over New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil.
Responding to ANI during a White House media interaction, Trump said, “I don’t think we have. I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India—50 per cent, very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi as you know. He was here a couple of months ago, we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference.”
Trump’s clarification comes after his Truth Social post earlier in the day, in which he wrote, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” The post was made days after leaders of India, Russia, and China met at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
The US President’s trade adviser Peter Navarro also renewed criticism of India, alleging that its oil imports from Russia were feeding Moscow’s war effort and that India’s tariffs were costing Americans jobs. Similarly, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said the administration was “disappointed” with India’s stance but remained hopeful for “positive developments.”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has declined to comment on Trump’s remarks linking India with Russia and China, but reiterated that New Delhi’s foreign policy is based on independent interests, not third-country pressures. On trade, the MEA spokesperson affirmed that India “continues to remain engaged with the US side on trade issues.”
The United States recently imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including an additional 25 per cent levy tied to India’s energy trade with Russia.
