<p>The timing was not lost on anyone as the US embassy shared a post on X about ties with India “touching new heights”. It was posted at the exact time Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was holding a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Monday (Sep 1). Coming as it did amid US President Donald Trump's punishment of India for buying Russian oil — which his tariff tsar, Peter Navarro, claimed was fuelling Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine — netizens were quick to react.</p><h2>What did the US embassy post say, even as the ambassador is yet to take charge?</h2><p>Even as the post of US ambassador to India is vacant as the nominee is yet to take chage— and reportedly set to also be a regional envoy for South and Central Asia — the embassy's social media post has raised eyebrows. It could be a stern warning, or a desperate attempt to salvage ties.</p><p>The post read: “The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century. This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defence and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey. Follow the hashtag and be a part of #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople.”</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-at-sco-summit-says-india-bearing-brunt-of-terrorism-for-last-four-decades-thanks-countries-that-stood-by-us-during-pahalgam-terror-attack-1756700589722"><strong>PM Modi at SCO Summit says India 'bearing brunt of terrorism for last four decades,' thanks countries that 'stood by us' during Pahalgam terror attack</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>It embedded a quote of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said: "The enduring friendship between our two peoples is the bedrock of our cooperation nand propels us forward as we realize the tremendous potential of our economic relationship".</p><p>Interestingly, the X handle of the US ambassador to India has a description that says: “This account will remain dormant until the new U.S. Ambassador to India arrives.” Note that the post of the envoy has been vacant for months now, before Trump appointed Sergio Gor to the post in late August. He is yet to take charge.</p><h2>The US embassy hashtag challenge isn't impressing many</h2><p>In a surprising twist, Rubio even promoted the hashtag #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople, adding another layer of ambiguity to the American messaging. But the US Embassy's attempt to rally support via the hashtag may have come too little, too late.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-summit-pm-modi-addresses-terrorism-mentions-pahalgam-attack-in-front-of-pakistan-pm-1756709048541/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-summit-pm-modi-addresses-terrorism-mentions-pahalgam-attack-in-front-of-pakistan-pm-1756709048541/embed</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One X user wrote: “Your actions and words don’t match. Tell Navarro to stop being racist.”*</p><p>The user was possibly referring to Peter Navarro’s controversial remarks that “Brahmins” were profiteering from the India–Russia oil trade — a statement widely condemned as racially insensitive.</p><p>Another X user posted (translated via machine translation): “Suddenly, the time has changed, the sentiments have changed.”</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sco-summit-pm-modi-slams-certain-nations-backing-terrorism-as-pakistan-watches-on-1756701048715"><strong>Also read: SCO summit: PM Modi slams 'certain nations' backing terrorism as Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif watches on</strong></a></p><h2>SCO Summit is making the US sit up and take notice of a changing world</h2><p>In the run-up to the SCO summit, there had been growing discussions about how groupings like SCO and BRICS could lead a move toward a de-dollarised, multipolar world— enabling trade and security cooperation outside the bounds of Western sanctions.</p><p>The Tianjin summit may be remembered as the moment this agenda gained serious traction.</p><p>Perhaps that’s why the US is suddenly seeking to repair ties — after a sharp downturn in the relationship caused by Trump’s tariff decision over India’s purchase of Russian oil, effectively undoing decades of strategic partnership in a matter of days.<br>&nbsp;</p>

It's no coincidence: The US embassy’s post on India-US ties came amid Modi’s SCO meeting with Putin and US sanctions on India’s Russian oil purchases. Navarro’s racist remarks sparked backlash, while the SCO summit signals growing India-Russia-China cooperation. Time for US to mend ways?

The timing was not lost on anyone as the US embassy shared a post on X about ties with India “touching new heights”. It was posted at the exact time Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was holding a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Monday (Sep 1). Coming as it did amid US President Donald Trump's punishment of India for buying Russian oil — which his tariff tsar, Peter Navarro, claimed was fuelling Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine — netizens were quick to react. What did the US embassy post say, even as the ambassador is yet to take charge? Even as the post of US ambassador to India is vacant as the nominee is yet to take chage— and reportedly set to also be a regional envoy for South and Central Asia — the embassy's social media post has raised eyebrows. It could be a stern warning, or a desperate attempt to salvage ties. The post read: “The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century. This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defence and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey. Follow the hashtag and be a part of #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople.” Also read: PM Modi at SCO Summit says India 'bearing brunt of terrorism for last four decades,' thanks countries that 'stood by us' during Pahalgam terror attack It embedded a quote of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said: "The enduring friendship between our two peoples is the bedrock of our cooperation nand propels us forward as we realize the tremendous potential of our economic relationship". Interestingly, the X handle of the US ambassador to India has a description that says: “This account will remain dormant until the new U.S. Ambassador to India arrives.” Note that the post of the envoy has been vacant for months now, before Trump appointed Sergio Gor to the post in late August. He is yet to take charge. The US embassy hashtag challenge isn't impressing many In a surprising twist, Rubio even promoted the hashtag #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople, adding another layer of ambiguity to the American messaging. But the US Embassy's attempt to rally support via the hashtag may have come too little, too late. https://www.wionews.com/videos/sco-summit-pm-modi-addresses-terrorism-mentions-pahalgam-attack-in-front-of-pakistan-pm-1756709048541/embed One X user wrote: “Your actions and words don’t match. Tell Navarro to stop being racist.”* The user was possibly referring to Peter Navarro’s controversial remarks that “Brahmins” were profiteering from the India–Russia oil trade — a statement widely condemned as racially insensitive. Another X user posted (translated via machine translation): “Suddenly, the time has changed, the sentiments have changed.” Also read: SCO summit: PM Modi slams 'certain nations' backing terrorism as Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif watches on SCO Summit is making the US sit up and take notice of a changing world In the run-up to the SCO summit, there had been growing discussions about how groupings like SCO and BRICS could lead a move toward a de-dollarised, multipolar world— enabling trade and security cooperation outside the bounds of Western sanctions. The Tianjin summit may be remembered as the moment this agenda gained serious traction. Perhaps that’s why the US is suddenly seeking to repair ties — after a sharp downturn in the relationship caused by Trump’s tariff decision over India’s purchase of Russian oil, effectively undoing decades of strategic partnership in a matter of days.

<p>It's no coincidence: The US embassy’s post on India-US ties came amid Modi’s SCO meeting with Putin and US sanctions on India’s Russian oil purchases. Navarro’s racist remarks sparked backlash, while the SCO summit signals growing India-Russia-China cooperation. Time for US to mend ways?</p>

'Tell Navarro to Stop Being Racist': US Embassy posts on India–US ties exactly as Modi, Putin meet at SCO – Desperate step or stern warning?

<p>The US mainstream media, most of which Donald Trump calls ‘fake news’, as well as several policy-watching think tanks, have criticised the American president's move to punish India with 50 per cent tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil. Only Trump-aligned media appear to be accepting it as a wise decision. Here is a breakdown:</p><h2>Criticism of Trump tariffs against India from media, thinktanks and experts</h2><p>The Wall Street Journal editorial board, often supportive of free-market conservatism, has taken a critical stance, with commentators arguing that the tariffs are disproportionate and unnecessarily antagonistic towards a key democratic ally. They noted that while India-Russia ties could be a problem for the US, Trump’s approach would do more harm than good. The Journal questioned why a nation seen as being close to the US, particularly given the bonhomie between Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi, is now facing such punitive treatment.</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/amid-trump-tariff-pressure-india-looks-to-diversify-textile-exports-to-40-nations-1756296523632"><strong>Amid Trump tariff pressure, India looks to diversify textile exports to 40 nations</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Analysts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described the move as ‘dismantling decades of bipartisan progress’ in strengthening US-India relations. They suggested the tariff policy will be perceived in New Delhi as ‘heavy-handed interference’ in Indian sovereignty, particularly given India’s strategic reliance on Russian oil. Carnegie warned that this shift from engagement to economic punishment could unravel trust between two democracies once seen as natural partners in counterbalancing China’s rise.</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/think-tank-gtri-asks-centre-to-boost-consumption-to-offset-donald-trump-s-tariff-1756299239761"><strong>Think tank GTRI asks Centre to boost consumption to offset&nbsp;Donald Trump's tariff</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Opinions and experts quoted in The Guardian challenged the framing of tariffs as legitimate diplomatic tools. Dr Stuart Rollo, for instance, characterised the measures as a 'departure from traditional diplomacy', calling them instruments of 'geopolitical compulsion'. Economist Devashish Mitra pointed out that India’s regional importance as a counterweight to China appears to have been undervalued, suggesting the administration is sacrificing strategic stability for short-term pressure tactics.</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/here-s-what-india-can-do-to-counter-donald-trump-s-tariffs-1756284737233"><strong>Here's what India can do to counter Donald Trump's tariffs</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Even opinion pieces in the New York Post, typically sympathetic to Trump, flagged concerns. While acknowledging India’s increased economic alignment with Russia, some writers there questioned whether tariffs are an appropriate vehicle for foreign policy enforcement. They warned that the move exposes fissures in the US–India relationship, which may not recover easily.</p><h2>But conservative media defends Trump tariffs as ‘realpolitik’</h2><p>In contrast, right-leaning media outlets aligned with Trump framed the tariffs as a logical extension of his “America First” agenda and a necessary recalibration of foreign policy. Fox News featured several columns positioning the tariffs as ‘tactical leverage’, not random economic aggression. Policy analyst Tanvi Ratna described the action as a ‘bold and ambitious realignment’, arguing that it is intended to force India to reassess its economic ties with Russia.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/democrats-lash-out-at-trump-for-india-tariffs-why-is-china-spared-1756376042775/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/democrats-lash-out-at-trump-for-india-tariffs-why-is-china-spared-1756376042775/embed</a></p><p>The goal, in this view, is not to punish, but to negotiate from a position of strength.</p><p>Some Fox News voices compared the strategy to ‘defensive warfare’, portraying tariffs as tools of reciprocity. They argued that if India penalises American exporters indirectly through strategic partnerships with adversaries like Russia, then the US is justified in returning the favour.</p><h2>Can tariffs be a foreign policy tool?</h2><p>Much of the debate centres on whether tariffs can be instruments of foreign policy at all.</p><p>On one side are those who believe in global cooperation, mutual economic benefit, and soft-power influence; while on the other, there are voice that favour transactional relationships and pressure-based negotiation.</p>

Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on India over Russian oil purchase have drawn sharp criticism from much of US media, warning of damage to US-India relations. But pro-Trump voices insist it's a bold leverage to counter Russia and enforce “America First” policies

The US mainstream media, most of which Donald Trump calls ‘fake news’, as well as several policy-watching think tanks, have criticised the American president's move to punish India with 50 per cent tariffs over the purchase of Russian oil. Only Trump-aligned media appear to be accepting it as a wise decision. Here is a breakdown: Criticism of Trump tariffs against India from media, thinktanks and experts The Wall Street Journal editorial board, often supportive of free-market conservatism, has taken a critical stance, with commentators arguing that the tariffs are disproportionate and unnecessarily antagonistic towards a key democratic ally. They noted that while India-Russia ties could be a problem for the US, Trump’s approach would do more harm than good. The Journal questioned why a nation seen as being close to the US, particularly given the bonhomie between Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi, is now facing such punitive treatment. Also read: Amid Trump tariff pressure, India looks to diversify textile exports to 40 nations Analysts at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace described the move as ‘dismantling decades of bipartisan progress’ in strengthening US-India relations. They suggested the tariff policy will be perceived in New Delhi as ‘heavy-handed interference’ in Indian sovereignty, particularly given India’s strategic reliance on Russian oil. Carnegie warned that this shift from engagement to economic punishment could unravel trust between two democracies once seen as natural partners in counterbalancing China’s rise. Also read: Think tank GTRI asks Centre to boost consumption to offset Donald Trump's tariff Opinions and experts quoted in The Guardian challenged the framing of tariffs as legitimate diplomatic tools. Dr Stuart Rollo, for instance, characterised the measures as a 'departure from traditional diplomacy', calling them instruments of 'geopolitical compulsion'. Economist Devashish Mitra pointed out that India’s regional importance as a counterweight to China appears to have been undervalued, suggesting the administration is sacrificing strategic stability for short-term pressure tactics. Also read: Here's what India can do to counter Donald Trump's tariffs Even opinion pieces in the New York Post, typically sympathetic to Trump, flagged concerns. While acknowledging India’s increased economic alignment with Russia, some writers there questioned whether tariffs are an appropriate vehicle for foreign policy enforcement. They warned that the move exposes fissures in the US–India relationship, which may not recover easily. But conservative media defends Trump tariffs as ‘realpolitik’ In contrast, right-leaning media outlets aligned with Trump framed the tariffs as a logical extension of his “America First” agenda and a necessary recalibration of foreign policy. Fox News featured several columns positioning the tariffs as ‘tactical leverage’, not random economic aggression. Policy analyst Tanvi Ratna described the action as a ‘bold and ambitious realignment’, arguing that it is intended to force India to reassess its economic ties with Russia. https://www.wionews.com/videos/democrats-lash-out-at-trump-for-india-tariffs-why-is-china-spared-1756376042775/embed The goal, in this view, is not to punish, but to negotiate from a position of strength. Some Fox News voices compared the strategy to ‘defensive warfare’, portraying tariffs as tools of reciprocity. They argued that if India penalises American exporters indirectly through strategic partnerships with adversaries like Russia, then the US is justified in returning the favour. Can tariffs be a foreign policy tool? Much of the debate centres on whether tariffs can be instruments of foreign policy at all. On one side are those who believe in global cooperation, mutual economic benefit, and soft-power influence; while on the other, there are voice that favour transactional relationships and pressure-based negotiation.

<p>Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on India over Russian oil purchase have drawn sharp criticism from much of US media, warning of damage to US-India relations. But pro-Trump voices insist it's a bold leverage to counter Russia and enforce “America First” policies</p>

Trump anti-India tariffs a strategic misstep or leverage? How US media, think tanks, experts are reacting to punishment over Russia oil trade

Peter Navarro, who has been making anti-India remarks,  is known for pushing false election fraud claims and clashing with officials over tariffs to inventing a fake economist and promoting discredited COVID-19 treatments. He even went to jail once. Here is what you should know 

From anti-India rants to jail time: 7 times Peter Navarro proved right his ex-aide who called him an unreliable a**hole

Donald Trump's tariff threat is not the first time India was punished by the US. The last time it happened, India came out bruised, but not defeated. Here is the story of India's Pokhran II nuclear tests, US punishment for it, and how New Delhi dealt with it

When India was punished, isolated by US and still survived the impact - The Pokhran nuclear test story - Foreign affairs tales

<p>Indian media is awash with stories of how RIC - an imagined alliance of Russia, India and China - could take on the Donald Trump-led US amid tariff threats by the American president against New Delhi. While it might be a good clickbait headline for articles and videos, it is a bad idea. In case you are too busy, here is the fast answer: India-China trust deficit, &nbsp;low alignment of strategic goals, and huge disparities in the economies are factors. The public and political opinion in India is against China. India, China and Russia do not have military capabilities that can take on the US. Political values are different: India is the only true democracy among the three. India’s alliances are generally West-leaning, and therefore the threat perception against the US and West is almost non-existent for it, and not aligned with that of China and Russia. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<br>If you have more time, let me break it down for you.</p><h2>Why a likely RIC alliance of Russia, India and China against the US is strategically flawed</h2><p>If formalised, RIC would have the goal of countering the US under Trump’s administration. But it is a deeply flawed and unrealistic geopolitical idea because of mistrust, differing national interests, incompatible economic goals, and asymmetric power dynamics among India, Russia and China.</p><p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-why-is-us-imposing-tariff-on-india-trump-tariff-news-1754495938671/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-why-is-us-imposing-tariff-on-india-trump-tariff-news-1754495938671/embed</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>India-China hostility and mistrust trump even Trump tantrums</h2><p>There's a massive trust deficit between India and China in spite of their continuing economic cooperation and current alignment against the US. The two countries still have unresolved border disputes, particularly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and military tensions despite recent attempts at a thaw.</p><p>The 2020 Galwan Valley clash led to casualties on both sides, severely damaging diplomatic trust, coming close on the heels of the Doklam clash along the border with Bhutan. Despite ongoing diplomatic engagements since 2024, India and China have not fully restored trust.</p><h2>Indian public and politicians view China with suspicion</h2><p>In the court of Indian public opinion, China is still the enemy. Any move toward an alliance involving China would lead to political backlash in India, and public outrage.</p><p>India is not anti-US, per se, but seeks to maintain its strategic autonomy. India has acted as a democratic counterbalance to China in the Indo-Pacific, which in fact is the reason why it's seen by the West as an important player in the region, and is invited to all kinds of strategic alliances like the Quad.<br>China, on the other hand, seeks regional hegemony, and given the context of Taiwan invasion fears and South China Sea territorial ambitions, can best be called a regional bully. Beijing dreams of a China-led world order under the single-party rule of communism, which fundamentally clashes with India's multi-party democratic ethos.<br>Russia and China jointly oppose the US-led world order, while India selectively aligns with the West when in its interest: this is why India is invited to G7, and is a key player in the G20.<br>&nbsp;</p><h2>India is an active partner of the US and West</h2><p>India is an active partner in the India-US-Japan-Australia Quad, which is fundamentally about checkmating China in the region.<br>The IPEF or Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, is another grouping that goes against a potential India-China alignment. India supports a rules-based international order and freedom of navigation, things that are in contrast to China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.</p><h2>Russia’s tilt towards China at India’s expense</h2><p>Russia and China have increasingly been sharing notes for a strategic alignment against the West's opposition to them, particularly since the Ukraine war.<br>Russia has become economically and strategically dependent on China, specifically in oil and gas trade, where Beijing is the biggest buyer.<br>China remains the economic lifeline for Russia amidst Western sanctions over the war. This has led Russia to covertly support China on Taiwan and the South China Sea. In both of these, India does not share the positions of China and Russia.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Russia-China friendship can impact India-Russia ties</h2><p>While India has had a long-standing economic and defence partnership with Russia, the question remains if Russia will be neutral in an India-China conflict scenario.<br>India has not had the best treatment recently in groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. SCO, which is dominated by China and Russia, recently disappointed India by not including language on terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, during a ministerial meeting.&nbsp;<br>India has also been diversifying defence suppliers away from Russia, buying its fighter jets from France and drones from the US and Israel, for instance. India's defence purchase dependence on Russia is already waning.</p><h2>Except for the current downturn, the India-US strategic partnership has been growing</h2><p>In the post-9/11 world, India and the US extended their cooperation in defence with arrangements and pacts like BECA and COMCASA. The two nations continue intelligence sharing, counterterrorism operations, and have advanced technology cooperation, like in the iCET initiative.<br>In spite of the Trump-led tensions, the US is India’s largest export market, worth over $130 billion.<br>The current levels of India-US cooperation in investment, technology, education and people-to-people cooperation cannot immediately be replaced by Russia or China.<br>Suddenly aligning against the US could jeopardise India's critical economic sectors and affect its national development.</p><h2>No meaningful economic convergence between India, China and Russia</h2><p>India and China are regional economic competitors, not partners. India has a major trade deficit with China. The Chinese infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was seen by India as a geopolitical threat. Except for energy and defence deals, there's not much that Russia’s economy can offer India.</p><h2>An issue of values and political systems: Democratic India vs autocratic Russia and China</h2><p>India is a vibrant democracy with civil liberties, electoral institutions, and a free press, while &nbsp;China is a single-party authoritarian regime, and Russia has become increasingly autocratic with one ruler, Vladimir Putin, at the helm for decades now. Thus, India is a natural ally of liberal democracies in the West rather than with authoritarian regimes. An alliance with Russia and China could damage India’s credibility as a leader of the democratic world.</p><h2>Can India, China and Russia have a military or strategic alliance?</h2><p>It's tough as the ingredients for such an alliance are missing: a shared threat perception, mutual trust, and operational compatibility.<br>India does not trust China, and Russia lacks the capacity or neutrality to bridge this gap. There is no institutional structure or commitment, or military planning to coordinate the three nations in case of a joint external threat.</p><h2>China is really the big brother among the three</h2><p>With Russia boxed in by years of sanctions and economic apartheid from the West, China is really the big brother among the three, both in military and money.</p><p>China’s GDP is nearly 10 times that of India. In spite of Western rhetoric, China still has more than 30 per cent of global manufacturing, while India is only 3 per cent. Russia's economic dependency on China is making it a junior partner in the arrangement.<br>India could be marginalised or relegated to a junior role in a China-dominated alliance.</p><h2>US would retaliate against any strategic alliance between India, Russia and China</h2><p>US retaliation to any strategic, defence or economic alliance between India, Russia and China could be severe. Already, Trump has threatened BRICS - a grouping of the three nations that also includes South Africa and Brazil. He has slapped tariffs on India, China and Brazil.&nbsp;<br>Any alignment by India with China and Russia might draw New Delhi into foreign conflicts it has nothing to do with, particularly Ukraine and Taiwan.<br>Furthermore, it would be a contradiction of India’s non-alignment policy.</p><h2>A huge risk for India's international standing</h2><p>Any alignment with Russia and China would dent India's aspirations to play a global role. India's participation in groupings and fora like G7, G20, BRICS, Quad, IPEF will be affected. India's continuing aspiration for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council could take a hit.</p><p>India’s image as a responsible, independent, democratic actor in the international system would be damaged if it aligns with Russia and China, and undermines India’s leadership of the Global South.</p><h2>Don't buy into the RIC narrative</h2><p>Therefore, next time you see that YouTube video with a thumbnail that screams ‘India, China, Russia to take on Trump’, please take these factors into account. RIC is neither feasible nor beneficial for India. It would be unstable and counterproductive.</p><p>India’s current strategy is the best: multiple alignments, balancing relations with the West while having open lines with Russia and regional powers. Keeping its strategic autonomy intact is the way forward for India. Attempting to join an authoritarian bloc to counter the US - and probably only as long as Trump is in power - would undermine India’s global aspirations, harm its economy, alienate vital partners, and trap it in alliances that serve others’ interests more than its own.</p>

Next time you see that YouTube video with a thumbnail that screams ‘India, China, Russia to take on Trump’, please take these factors into account. RIC is neither feasible nor beneficial for India. It would be unstable and counterproductive.

Indian media is awash with stories of how RIC - an imagined alliance of Russia, India and China - could take on the Donald Trump-led US amid tariff threats by the American president against New Delhi. While it might be a good clickbait headline for articles and videos, it is a bad idea. In case you are too busy, here is the fast answer: India-China trust deficit, low alignment of strategic goals, and huge disparities in the economies are factors. The public and political opinion in India is against China. India, China and Russia do not have military capabilities that can take on the US. Political values are different: India is the only true democracy among the three. India’s alliances are generally West-leaning, and therefore the threat perception against the US and West is almost non-existent for it, and not aligned with that of China and Russia. If you have more time, let me break it down for you. Why a likely RIC alliance of Russia, India and China against the US is strategically flawed If formalised, RIC would have the goal of countering the US under Trump’s administration. But it is a deeply flawed and unrealistic geopolitical idea because of mistrust, differing national interests, incompatible economic goals, and asymmetric power dynamics among India, Russia and China. https://www.wionews.com/videos/breaking-why-is-us-imposing-tariff-on-india-trump-tariff-news-1754495938671/embed India-China hostility and mistrust trump even Trump tantrums There's a massive trust deficit between India and China in spite of their continuing economic cooperation and current alignment against the US. The two countries still have unresolved border disputes, particularly in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, and military tensions despite recent attempts at a thaw. The 2020 Galwan Valley clash led to casualties on both sides, severely damaging diplomatic trust, coming close on the heels of the Doklam clash along the border with Bhutan. Despite ongoing diplomatic engagements since 2024, India and China have not fully restored trust. Indian public and politicians view China with suspicion In the court of Indian public opinion, China is still the enemy. Any move toward an alliance involving China would lead to political backlash in India, and public outrage. India is not anti-US, per se, but seeks to maintain its strategic autonomy. India has acted as a democratic counterbalance to China in the Indo-Pacific, which in fact is the reason why it's seen by the West as an important player in the region, and is invited to all kinds of strategic alliances like the Quad. China, on the other hand, seeks regional hegemony, and given the context of Taiwan invasion fears and South China Sea territorial ambitions, can best be called a regional bully. Beijing dreams of a China-led world order under the single-party rule of communism, which fundamentally clashes with India's multi-party democratic ethos. Russia and China jointly oppose the US-led world order, while India selectively aligns with the West when in its interest: this is why India is invited to G7, and is a key player in the G20. India is an active partner of the US and West India is an active partner in the India-US-Japan-Australia Quad, which is fundamentally about checkmating China in the region. The IPEF or Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, is another grouping that goes against a potential India-China alignment. India supports a rules-based international order and freedom of navigation, things that are in contrast to China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Russia’s tilt towards China at India’s expense Russia and China have increasingly been sharing notes for a strategic alignment against the West's opposition to them, particularly since the Ukraine war. Russia has become economically and strategically dependent on China, specifically in oil and gas trade, where Beijing is the biggest buyer. China remains the economic lifeline for Russia amidst Western sanctions over the war. This has led Russia to covertly support China on Taiwan and the South China Sea. In both of these, India does not share the positions of China and Russia. Russia-China friendship can impact India-Russia ties While India has had a long-standing economic and defence partnership with Russia, the question remains if Russia will be neutral in an India-China conflict scenario. India has not had the best treatment recently in groupings like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. SCO, which is dominated by China and Russia, recently disappointed India by not including language on terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, during a ministerial meeting. India has also been diversifying defence suppliers away from Russia, buying its fighter jets from France and drones from the US and Israel, for instance. India's defence purchase dependence on Russia is already waning. Except for the current downturn, the India-US strategic partnership has been growing In the post-9/11 world, India and the US extended their cooperation in defence with arrangements and pacts like BECA and COMCASA. The two nations continue intelligence sharing, counterterrorism operations, and have advanced technology cooperation, like in the iCET initiative. In spite of the Trump-led tensions, the US is India’s largest export market, worth over $130 billion. The current levels of India-US cooperation in investment, technology, education and people-to-people cooperation cannot immediately be replaced by Russia or China. Suddenly aligning against the US could jeopardise India's critical economic sectors and affect its national development. No meaningful economic convergence between India, China and Russia India and China are regional economic competitors, not partners. India has a major trade deficit with China. The Chinese infrastructure project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was seen by India as a geopolitical threat. Except for energy and defence deals, there's not much that Russia’s economy can offer India. An issue of values and political systems: Democratic India vs autocratic Russia and China India is a vibrant democracy with civil liberties, electoral institutions, and a free press, while China is a single-party authoritarian regime, and Russia has become increasingly autocratic with one ruler, Vladimir Putin, at the helm for decades now. Thus, India is a natural ally of liberal democracies in the West rather than with authoritarian regimes. An alliance with Russia and China could damage India’s credibility as a leader of the democratic world. Can India, China and Russia have a military or strategic alliance? It's tough as the ingredients for such an alliance are missing: a shared threat perception, mutual trust, and operational compatibility. India does not trust China, and Russia lacks the capacity or neutrality to bridge this gap. There is no institutional structure or commitment, or military planning to coordinate the three nations in case of a joint external threat. China is really the big brother among the three With Russia boxed in by years of sanctions and economic apartheid from the West, China is really the big brother among the three, both in military and money. China’s GDP is nearly 10 times that of India. In spite of Western rhetoric, China still has more than 30 per cent of global manufacturing, while India is only 3 per cent. Russia's economic dependency on China is making it a junior partner in the arrangement. India could be marginalised or relegated to a junior role in a China-dominated alliance. US would retaliate against any strategic alliance between India, Russia and China US retaliation to any strategic, defence or economic alliance between India, Russia and China could be severe. Already, Trump has threatened BRICS - a grouping of the three nations that also includes South Africa and Brazil. He has slapped tariffs on India, China and Brazil. Any alignment by India with China and Russia might draw New Delhi into foreign conflicts it has nothing to do with, particularly Ukraine and Taiwan. Furthermore, it would be a contradiction of India’s non-alignment policy. A huge risk for India's international standing Any alignment with Russia and China would dent India's aspirations to play a global role. India's participation in groupings and fora like G7, G20, BRICS, Quad, IPEF will be affected. India's continuing aspiration for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council could take a hit. India’s image as a responsible, independent, democratic actor in the international system would be damaged if it aligns with Russia and China, and undermines India’s leadership of the Global South. Don't buy into the RIC narrative Therefore, next time you see that YouTube video with a thumbnail that screams ‘India, China, Russia to take on Trump’, please take these factors into account. RIC is neither feasible nor beneficial for India. It would be unstable and counterproductive. India’s current strategy is the best: multiple alignments, balancing relations with the West while having open lines with Russia and regional powers. Keeping its strategic autonomy intact is the way forward for India. Attempting to join an authoritarian bloc to counter the US - and probably only as long as Trump is in power - would undermine India’s global aspirations, harm its economy, alienate vital partners, and trap it in alliances that serve others’ interests more than its own.

<p>Next time you see that YouTube video with a thumbnail that screams ‘India, China, Russia to take on Trump’, please take these factors into account. RIC is neither feasible nor beneficial for India. Here is why:</p>

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