US authorities believe that relations between Russia and a number of its partners, including India, cannot be considered alliances, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House John Kirby said at a briefing on Friday.

The journalist asked him to comment on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks that this was not the era of war during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. The journalist also asked whether this statement indicated a weakening of the alliances created by Russia.

Kirby said such ties cannot be called alliances because using the word in this context would imply it is out of bounds.

These are not alliances, the White House spokesman added. The SCO summit did not have a lot of sympathetic ears, he said. In his view, the statements from India and China were telling.

Kirby said Russian authorities were only further isolating themselves from the international community.

Earlier, India's prime minister also said that relations between India and Russia will continue to improve and benefit the world.