Sometimes, in diplomacy, optics can become substance, provided those choreographing this know the difference between the two. In light of Trump’s erratic and punitive tariffs against India, and the irrational and vicious tirade launched by him and his closest aides, pictures of Russian President Putin, Chinese supremo Xi Jinping, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi parleying together convey an important message: that erstwhile rivals, or friends who had perhaps grown less close, can come together and forge new relationships to stand up to a common adversary.

This strange quartet, Trump, Putin, Xi and Modi, pirouetting merrily on the centre stage of international diplomacy has left many observers surprised, and certainly left Trump a little stumped. It is difficult to say who is the biggest gainer in this contrived new tango. In my view, Russia comes up trumps. On the one hand, Putin is having summit meetings with Trump, and on the other, continuing the pummelling of Ukraine while reinforcing his friendship with China and renewing it with India. In addition, by all accounts, Russia’s economy, in spite of international sanctions, is doing well.

China, possibly, comes second in the list of gainers. It has stood up to Trump’s tantrums, strengthened its relationship with Russia, and what would........

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