Can’t Talk to India Like That”: Putin Defends India Amid US Tariffs | Modi vs Trump

Kugelman noted that the optics of Modi standing with Putin and Xi at the SCO summit carried a strong diplomatic message, especially as Washington pressures India to cut Russian ties. He highlighted the mixed signals from the Trump administration—some officials pushing damage control, others escalating rhetoric. The fallout, he argued, has led to daily public insults directed at India, undermining trust in the partnership.

On the way forward, Kugelman stressed that Modi is unlikely to concede further on trade, and India may look to the EU and even China to balance losses. He also pointed to speculation that Trump’s softer approach to Pakistan could be linked to his family’s business interests.

As talks of a “deep freeze” in relations grow, Kugelman warned that the strategic, trade, and even people-to-people ties between India and the US are all under strain. In conclusion, Barkha Dutt observed that the situation marks a volatile and uncertain phase in global politics, with India signaling it has options beyond Washington.