Analysts suggest Prime Minister Modi's post-2014 closer ties with the US, including campaigning for Donald Trump, led to mistrust with Russia. Despite a perceived personal rapport, Trump imposed tariffs on India, which the article describes as a foreign policy embarrassment. India's reassessment of its US alignment grew as Trump increased pressure, including tariffs ostensibly for India's purchase of Russian oil. This shift also coincided with a cooling of India-Russia arms deals and Modi's non-public support for Russia's Ukraine stance, creating distance in Indo-Russian relations and prompting Russia to improve ties with Pakistan.