President Trump said India and Russia appear to be “lost” to China after their leaders met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, underscoring his frustration with Moscow and New Delhi as Beijing seeks to bolster its alliances.
“Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together,” Mr. Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social above a picture of three world leaders together at Mr. Xi’s China summit.
Mr. Trump’s post comes after Mr. Xi welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin earlier this week. The three met at a military parade in Beijing to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II.
At the conference, the three leaders talked about alliances and strengthening their relationships. All three have expressed anger with the U.S. over Mr. Trump’s stance on the Ukraine conflict and aggressive trade war. Mr. Modi has also bristled at Mr. Trump’s claims that he is responsible for a ceasefire in the conflict between India and Pakistan.
Last week, Mr. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on most goods imported to the U.S. from India as punishment for its purchases of Russian oil, which is helping fund Moscow’s war machine in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Mr. Trump accused the three leaders of conspiring against the U.S. and urged Mr. Xi to remember that the U.S. sacrificed its troops during World War II to fend off Japanese invaders.
“The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ’blood’ that the United States of America gave to China in order to help it to secure its freedom from a very unfriendly foreign invader. Many Americans died in China’s quest for Victory and Glory. I hope that they are rightfully Honored and Remembered for their Bravery and Sacrifice,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” the post continued.
Beijing and Moscow both pushed back on Mr. Trump’s claims of an anti-U.S. conspiracy at the military parade.
“The purpose was to join peace-loving countries and peoples in remembering history, honoring those who sacrificed their lives, cherishing peace and looking to the future,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun.
Yuri Ushakov, a top Putin aide, said Mr. Trump was wrong about a potential conspiracy.
“I want to say that no one was plotting [against the U.S.], no one was weaving anything, no conspiracies. Moreover, no one even had this in mind, none of these three leaders [of the Russian Federation, China and the DPRK] had it,” Mr. Ushakov said, according to Russian state media.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.