Trump's Actions Lead Indian PM Modi to Embrace Putin and Xi

The relationship between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump has soured after initial friendly interactions at events like "Howdy Modi" and "Namaste Trump."

Opposition parties in India have urged Modi to respond to the perceived humiliation by Trump, but Modi has chosen to remain silent.

The tension began when Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on social media before the leaders of both countries had confirmed it. This led to Pakistan's Prime Minister nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Following this, the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports of Russian crude oil, citing national security concerns related to the conflict in Ukraine.

India, which has significantly increased its imports of Russian oil in recent years, justifies the purchases as essential for its energy security and is now focusing on reducing dependence on imports.

In response to the punitive actions by the US administration, India is recalibrating its foreign policy, as evidenced by Modi's recent visit to China and engagements with Chinese and Russian officials.

The relationship between India and Russia, historically strong, has been based on mutual support in international forums and significant arms trade. India is gradually diversifying its sources of military hardware but faces challenges in technology transfers.

During a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Modi emphasized the importance of mutual trust and peaceful coexistence between India and China, highlighting the need to avoid letting border issues define the overall relationship.

The interactions between Modi, Xi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting will be closely watched, particularly in light of the evolving dynamics with the US.