Trump says India, Russia appear "lost" to "deepest, darkest China"

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed frustration over India and Russia’s apparent alignment with China following a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

"Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" Trump wrote in a social media post, accompanying a photo of the three leaders at Xi's summit in China, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

"I don't think we have," he added. "I've been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil, as you know, from Russia. And I let them know that."

When asked about Trump’s social media post, India’s foreign ministry told reporters in New Delhi that it had no comment. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment, and representatives for the Kremlin could not be immediately reached.

Xi hosted more than 20 leaders of non-Western countries for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Putin and Modi were seen holding hands at the summit as they walked toward Xi before all three leaders stood side by side.

"I'll always be friends with Modi," Trump told reporters on Friday. "He's a great prime minister. He's great. I'll always be friends, but I just don't like what he's doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a special relationship. There's nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion."

India’s Prime Minister Modi reciprocated Trump’s sentiments in an X post early Saturday, saying, "Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties." Modi emphasized that India and the U.S. maintain a "very positive ... forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership."

Trump’s frustration comes amid tensions with both countries. He has chilled U.S.-India ties over trade disputes and other issues, and expressed disappointment with Putin, though he indicated he is not concerned about growing Russia-China ties.

The U.S. president has also voiced frustration over his inability to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, more than three years after Russian forces invaded Ukraine. He told reporters at the White House Thursday night that he planned to talk to Putin soon.

By Khagan Isayev