Days after India and Russia displayed unprecedented unity at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, US President Donald Trump took a jibe at the alliance on Friday, saying that “America has lost both countries to deepest and darkest China.” He wished the new alliance “a long and prosperous future together”.

"Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump’s post came just days after the bonhomie among Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, China drew global attention.

He has been facing widespread criticism within America, as several officials from the Biden era, including former National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, claimed that Trump had undone decades of diplomatic efforts to build strong India-US relations.

When reporters asked about Trump’s recent post on the new alliance, the Ministry of External Affairs refrained from commenting during a regular press briefing in New Delhi. "I have no comments to offer on this post at this time," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in the presser.

The relations between New Delhi and Washington are on a downturn after Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a whopping 50 per cent, including a 25 per cent additional duties for India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

At the SCO Summit, the smiling photograph of Modi, Putin and his Chinese counterpart marked a major blow to the Trump administration. This was seen as "steady progress" in improving India-China relations after a meeting with its top diplomat in August, and noted "respect for each other’s interests and sensitivities."

The SCO Summit has proved that, in a matter of weeks, Trump and his administration have unravelled decades of careful diplomacy between Washington and New Delhi. His actions have deeply bruised the pride of a nation, India, which, after years of keeping the US at arm’s length, was finally warming to the idea of being a key regional ally. The next time Washington offers a hand of friendship, a more guarded India may pause, carefully measuring the length of the dagger hidden in the other hand.