Donald Trump criticized India’s steep tariffs after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen holding hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin at an anti-NATO summit in China.

Many interpreted Modi’s gesture towards Putin as a response to Trump’s tariffs on India due to its purchase of Russian oil. Trump was quick to respond following their encounter.

‘Few realize that while we do minimal business with India, they conduct substantial trade with us. They sell us large amounts of goods, and we are one of their biggest clients, but our sales to them are minor – a completely lopsided relationship that has existed for decades,’ he stated.

‘This is because India has imposed on us, until now, exceptionally high tariffs, the highest of any nation, preventing our businesses from effectively selling in India. It has been an entirely one-sided catastrophe!’

‘Additionally, India sources most of its oil and military equipment from Russia, with very little from the U.S. Now, they have agreed to reduce their tariffs to zero, but it might be too late. They should have acted years ago. Just some basic facts for consideration!!!’

Trump had maintained a generally amicable relationship with Modi during his first term, but many of his economic policies during his second term sparked friction.

India’s tariffs on imports average 14 percent according to WSJ, higher than many other nations, which led Trump to refer to Modi as the ‘tariff king.’ For example, China levies a 6.5 percent tariff on imports. 

India, along with China, are the two biggest buyers of Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

The president hit India with 50 percent tariffs on some goods in retaliation, accusing Delhi of bankrolling Putin’s war effort, but so far neither India nor China has shown any sign of cutting energy imports from Russia. Initially, the president had levied a 25 percent ‘reciprocal’ tariff on India as with many nations. 

Analysts say Trump’s approach may have pushed Modi closer to Moscow and Beijing as the three powers look to strengthen economic ties. 

Presidential trade advisor Peter Navarro slammed Modi – despite calling him a ‘great leader’ – for embracing Putin and Xi Jinping later Monday. 

‘I don’t understand why he’s getting into bed with Putin and Xi Jinping…when he’s the leader of the biggest democracy in the world,’ Navarro told Fox News.

Putin and Modi walked hand in hand as they arrived to meet Xi Jinping at a major summit in China aimed at establishing a new world order and challenging the West.

The Russian president and the Indian prime minister beamed as they strolled into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization talks in Tianjin, where Xi hosted more than 20 non-Western leaders. 

The summit was billed as an alternative to the US-led global system and was packed with displays of unity between Moscow, Beijing and Delhi.

The three leaders were later seen laughing together in a huddle in what appeared to be a show of solidarity against Washington and its allies.

Modi shared a photograph of himself with Putin inside the president’s armored Aurus limousine after the summit. It was captioned: ‘Always a delight to meet President Putin. Conversations with him are always insightful.’

At their talks, Modi told Putin: ‘Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always walked shoulder to shoulder. 

Putin responded warmly, saying in Russian: ‘Dear Mr Prime Minister, dear friend. Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades, friendly and trusting.’

In a direct jab at the US’ tariff policies, Xi opened the gathering saying: ‘We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practice true multilateralism.’

He warned against divisions, telling leaders to ‘oppose Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation’ and to stand ‘against hegemonism and power politics’.

‘Global governance has reached a new crossroads,’ he added, before pledging billions in aid and loans to member states and announcing plans for an artificial intelligence cooperation centre and a joint lunar research station.

Xi said China would provide 2 billion yuan in free aid and 10 billion yuan in loans to member states through an SCO banking consortium. 

The Chinese leader also hinted at creating a new SCO development bank, a move that could reduce dependence on the US dollar and weaken Washington’s ability to impose sanctions.

Putin endorsed Xi’s message, saying the SCO had revived ‘genuine multilateralism’ and was building ‘a new system of stability and security in Eurasia’.

He said: ‘This security system, unlike Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models, would genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries, be truly balanced, and would not allow one country to ensure its own security at the expense of others.’ 

The Kremlin leader again blamed NATO for the war in Ukraine, accusing the West of creating the crisis by trying to pull Kyiv into the alliance.

Putin said: ‘In order for a Ukrainian settlement to be sustainable and long-term, the root causes of the crisis, which I have just mentioned and which I have repeatedly mentioned before, must be eliminated.

He added that ‘a fair balance in the security sphere’ must be restored and claimed he was open to peace talks.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who is due to meet European leaders in Paris on Thursday, accused Putin of avoiding a one-on-one meeting that was agreed during his recent trip to Washington.

‘Now, during his visit to China, Putin will once again try to wriggle out. That is his number one sport. Everyone in the world has declared that the fire must cease. Everyone has insisted that the war must end. That has also been China’s position,’ Zelensky said.

Putin is expected to remain in China as the guest of honor at a massive military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War Two.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un will also attend the display, which will feature China’s newest weapons, including ship-killing hypersonic missiles, in what experts say is a warning to the West.