Threatened by Washington with 50% tariffs, India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has responded by turning to its powerful neighbors. The Indian foreign minister is set to visit Russia soon, while the Chinese foreign minister is expected in New Delhi on Monday.

India and China are actively working to mend their strained bilateral relations, signalling a push towards normalising ties and fostering greater stability between the two Asian giants

The aggressive trade policies of President Donald Trump are inadvertently pushing India towards a strategic alignment with China.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will visit India from Monday to Wednesday, China's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday, for talks about a disputed border in the Himalayas.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has explained why America has spared China -- Russia's biggest oil buyer -- from any secondary sanctions, even as 50 per cent tariffs were imposed on India, including a 25 per cent duty for buying Russian oil.

The Philippines continues to strengthen security ties with India and other regional powers amid a territorial dispute with China.

A cargo of Indian diesel is heading to China, in what would be first such shipment since 2021, with oil product exports from Russia-linked Nayara Energy in a state of limbo following the latest round of European Union sanctions.

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India's purchases of Russian crude were funding Moscow's war in Ukraine and had to stop, adding that New Delhi was "now cozying up to both Russia and China".

Experts believe this may soften US tariffs on India and strengthen the Indian economy, highlighting India's strategic autonomy amidst increasing Russian oil imports despite Western sanctions.