President Trump publicly lamented that India is aligning with China and Russia after Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined their leaders at a summit in China, though he later insisted the U.S.-India relationship remains strong.

Analysts say Trump’s tariffs, claims about mediating India-Pakistan tensions and confrontational style have strained ties, fueling India’s concerns about U.S. reliability. While India has longstanding reasons to balance relations among major powers, experts note it still seeks a close partnership with Washington despite recent tensions.

Devashish Mitra, Gerald B. and Daphna Cramer Professor of Global Affairs, says that Trump’s oscillating statements about India underscore the country’s concerns about its relationship with the United States.

“Right now, India feels that the U.S. is not a very reliable partner,” Mitra says. “They thought the U.S. was an ally. If India is moving towards China, it’s a friendship of convenience.”

Read more in the New York Times article, “How Trump’s Blunt-Force Diplomacy Is Pushing His Rivals Together.”