New Delhi/Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday wrote a post expressing the diminishing hopes of a trade deal with India. He wrote in a post on the social media platform Truth that we have lost India and Russia to China.
Posting a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, he wrote on Truth social media, “It looks like America has lost India and Russia to the deepest and darkest China. May God bless their future with a long and prosperous one!”
This development has come at a time when Trump had imposed a 50 percent tariff on India for continued purchase of Russian oil. At present, India has not reacted to this. In this regard, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Cannot comment on this post at this time.”
Accused of ‘conspiracy’ against America
Earlier, Trump had accused Chinese President Xi Jinping of ‘conspiracy’ against America when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended China’s biggest military parade ever.
Statement of Foreign Ministry on Peter Navarro
On the statement of Peter Navarro (Senior Advisor to the US President on Trade and Manufacturing Affairs), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen Navarro’s false and misleading statements and clearly we reject them. We have talked about this earlier as well. This relationship between America and India is very important to us. Both countries share a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which is based on our common interests, democratic values and strong people-to-people relations. This partnership has faced many changes and challenges.” Navarro’s caste-based remarks
Let us tell you that Navarro had taken a tough stand on US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50 percent tariff on imports from India, making caste-based remarks on this issue and accusing the country’s Brahmins of ‘profiteering at the expense of the Indian people’.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson said, “… We will continue to talk with the US side on trade issues… We see the Quad as a valuable platform for discussing common interests on a number of issues among the four member countries. The leaders’ summit is determined through diplomatic consultations between the member countries…”
Modi and Putin attended the SCO conference
Let us tell you that earlier this week, many world leaders, including Modi and Putin, gathered for the SCO summit in Tianjin, China. The summit was seen as a clear message of protest against Trump’s harsh tariffs, especially against India. The tremendous warmth between Prime Minister Modi, Xi Jinping and Russian leader Putin during the summit caught the attention of the whole world, especially the western countries.
‘The once close personal relationship between Trump and Modi is now over’
Earlier, former US National Security Advisor John Bolton had said that the once close personal relationship between Trump and Modi is now over. In an interview to British media outlet LBC, Bolton said, “Trump had a very good personal relationship with Modi personally. I think that is over now and it is a lesson for everyone.”
He further said, “For example, (British Prime Minister) Keir Starmer – a good personal relationship can sometimes be helpful, but it will not save you from bad times.”
Trump takes a dig at tariffs
India-US bilateral relations have reached their lowest point in years after Trump imposed 50 percent tariffs on New Delhi last month. The US had imposed a 25 percent base tariff and an additional 25 percent tariff on India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Trump had also announced a 145 per cent tariff on China, but it was later postponed for 90 days. The Republican leader’s moves have brought together India, Russia and China, who exchanged pleasantries and warmth on the SCO platform, which must have been somewhat unsettling for Trump.
Experts believe that with Trump’s attack on tariffs and his aides attacking India and Prime Minister Modi, they feel that India is tilting towards the anti-US bloc of China and Russia.
This is being seen as something that India has evolved into a new era of multipolarity and multilateralism. It could be a direct challenge to the post-Cold War, US-dominated unipolar system.
First China visit in seven years
Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to China in seven years highlighted this change. The hostility that had been there in India-China relations since the Galwan conflict is nowhere to be seen now. Instead, PM Modi was given a warm welcome by Xi Jinping in Tianjin, far beyond the welcome most guests receive.
During their bilateral meeting, the two leaders agreed to be friends, not rivals, resolve border disputes and deepen trade ties. After his talks with PM Modi, Xi Jinping said that it is important to be friends, to be a good neighbour and for the dragon and the elephant to come together.”
