Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s post -2014 growing proximity to the United States is considered by some analysts to have created a sense of mistrust with Russia. Yet, despite Modi going to the extent of literally campaigning for Donald Trump on the slogan “Abki Bar Trump Sarkar” and hugging him like a soulmate did not prevent Trump from slapping him with a 25 per cent tariff and penalty. From the Indian perspective, this was not diplomacy; it was a national embarrassment of one man’s friendship costing India dearly.

It was a foreign policy disaster of epic scale. Over the last decade, India has drawn closer to the United States, tentatively aligning itself with Washington as it continues to eschew formal alliances. The Indian leadership welcomed Trump’s return to the White House because of the apparent chemistry between Trump and Modi. India soon realised its miscalculation and opted to reassess its American gamble as Trump flipped from friend to not-such-a-friend and began to ramp up the pressure on India, his increased tariff ostensibly meant to penalise New Delhi for its ongoing purchase of Russian oil. It was over the course of Modi’s tilt towards the US that the India-Russia partnership first faced its bumps.

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It was also the first time that India and Russia did not sign an arms sale deal for such a long time ~ since 2021. Modi also has not publicly supported Russia’s war on Ukraine. In fact, he cancelled or suspended several arms agreements, including for 49 new MI-17 helicopters and the modernisation of SU-30 MK1 fighters. There is no denying that this was a........

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