Donald Trump fumes as Putin and Modi cosy up at anti-NATO summit

Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to react (Image: Getty)

Donald Trump has reacted after Vladimir Putin was seen holding hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an anti-NATO summit in China. The embrace was seen as a reaction to the US President's tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.

Trump has since fired back and lashed out at India's high tariffs. He took to Truth Social to describe the US and India trade relationship as "totally one sided", adding that Washington does "very little business" with Delhi.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Trump said: "What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us.

"In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest 'client,' but we sell them very little - Until now a totally one sided relationship, and it has been for many decades."

He added: "The reason is that India has charged us, until now, such high tariffs, the most of any country, that our businesses are unable to sell into India. It has been a totally one sided disaster!

"Also, India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the U.S. They have now offered to cut their tariffs to nothing, but it's getting late. They should have done so years ago. Just some simple facts for people to ponder!!!"

It comes after the US imposed 50% tariffs on India. This included duties of 25% last month for buying Russian oil, a crucial source of revenue for Putin since the invasion of Ukraine.

Modi and Putin embraced at the recent summit (Image: Getty)

However, India has pushed back against the tariffs with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stating that Delhi "will neither bow down nor ever appear weak" in its economic relationships. In May, India reportedly offered the US a "zero-for-zero" tariff deal but terms were not agreed.

Trump was largely friendly with Modi over his first term but their relationship has soured in recent times. He recently labelled the India Prime Minister the "tariff king" after tariffs on US imports hit an average of 14%.

Experts have suggested that Trump's actions have pushed Modi closer to Moscow and Beijing. Peter Navarro, the presidential trade advisor, slammed Modi for embracing Putin and Xi Jinping yesterday (Monday, September 1).

He told Fox News: "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."

Putin and Modi strolled into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation talks in Tianjin, where Xi hosted over 20 non-Western leaders, while holding hands. The pair beamed and were seen laughing together.