Trump’s missteps push India towards pragmatism

It was the photograph that made headlines around the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Xinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sharing a moment on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China. The photo, which was shared by Modi on ‘X’, sent an important message to the United States - that India would continue to pursue an independent foreign policy, which would be defined by multipolarity and its own interests.

This photo op would have been unthinkable even a few months ago. And while India and China have been slowly working towards restoring ties that deteriorated after the 2020 Galwan clashes, US President Donald Trump may have unwittingly pushed India to a quicker embrace with Beijing. And Russia. It is no wonder that his trade advisor Peter Navarro had a meltdown soon afterwards declaring that India should be with the US and not “in bed with dictators”.