Trump Claims India, Russia Shift Closer to China Post-SCO Summit

President Donald Trump criticized India and Russia for aligning more closely with China following the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, posting on social media that the U.S. had "lost" both countries to what he called the "deepest, darkest China." Trump's imposition of a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, particularly in response to India's purchase of Russian oil, has been widely seen as a factor pushing India closer to China and Russia, disrupting previously strong U.S.-India relations. Critics, including Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, argue that Trump's tariff policies have weakened America's global influence, driven inflation domestically, and pushed India toward rival powers, thereby harming U.S. economic and diplomatic interests. Media coverage highlighted the SCO summit as a strategic display of unity among India, China, and Russia against U.S. dominance, with many outlets framing it as a direct rebuke to Trump's aggressive trade policies. Despite Trump's warnings and calls for economic pressure on China and Russia, Indian officials remain optimistic about future bilateral trade agreements with the U.S. The overall assessment suggests that Trump's tariffs and foreign policy stance have contributed to a realignment of global alliances, challenging U.S. leadership on the world stage.