India and the US have been, since the August 27 imposition of the additional 25% punitive tariffs, diplomatically jostling. India was disappointed when the US ignored its plea that countries like China and members of the European Union, which also bought Russian oil or gas, were not facing similar repercussions. Consequently, India modified its tactics.

First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Summit on August 31-September 1. He played up bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 50-minute tete-a-tete with Putin in the Russian leader’s limousine projected ostentatious bonhomie. The finale saw PM Modi theatrically leading President Putin by hand to grab a surprised President Xi and form a hand-holding triad. India signalled that it could veer towards a China-dominated group if unfairly targeted. Of course, India stopped short of a total switch by skipping the Chinese V-Day parade, the day after the SCO Summit.

President Donald Trump, in an immediate post, blurted out that it “looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China”. He sarcastically wished the three countries a “long and prosperous future together”. Clearly, the Indian move registered in Washington. As usual with President Trump, more statements followed. On social media he warmly affirmed that “I will always be friends with Modi. He is a great prime minister.” Though he qualified it, writing he did not “like what he’s (Modi) doing at this........

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