Leaders of India, Russia, and China Display Unity at SCO Summit in Tianjin
Tianjin, China — In a highly symbolic moment on Monday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping clasped hands and exchanged warm gestures at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, underscoring their joint commitment to a multipolar world order. The carefully choreographed public display, marked by smiles, handshakes, and close conversation through translators, signaled a collective stance by three of Eurasia’s most influential leaders at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
The Tianjin gathering drew heads of state and senior officials from over two dozen countries, with the host nation China emphasizing the need to reshape global governance and reduce reliance on Western-led institutions. The meeting comes amid widening divisions between East and West—accelerated by the Ukraine conflict, the U.S.-China rivalry, and disputes over trade and security in Asia.
A Symbol of Strategic Convergence
The joint appearance of Modi, Putin, and Xi stood out as one of the summit’s defining images. The leaders’ intertwined hands were widely viewed as a direct statement of solidarity, sending a message both to domestic audiences and the wider international community. Analysts noted that such gestures are rare between these leaders, especially given the complex dynamics among their nations, which include ongoing China-India border disputes and Russia’s deepening economic dependence on Beijing in the wake of Western sanctions.
Yet, despite these differences, the leaders presented a message of shared purpose: balancing global power and strengthening the SCO’s role in security, energy, and economic cooperation. The alliance, founded in 2001, has evolved from a regional security bloc to a forum addressing broader geopolitical objectives—including counterterrorism, infrastructure development, and trade.
Xi Jinping’s Call for a New Global Framework
In his keynote address, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged members to “reimagine cooperation” and build what he described as a global governance framework that is “inclusive and equitable.” Beijing has consistently positioned the SCO as a platform to champion equality among nations and counter what it sees as a U.S.-dominated international order.
Xi highlighted initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), emphasizing connectivity projects spanning Central Asia and the Middle East. The rhetoric drew applause from member states, many of which see Beijing’s economic outreach as an alternative to Western aid and investment frameworks. Xi also underscored the importance of regional security, warning against external interference in Asia’s internal affairs.
Vladimir Putin Raises NATO and Ukraine Concerns
Russian President Vladimir Putin used his address to express deep concerns over NATO expansion and its repercussions in Eastern Europe. He reiterated that security guarantees must be taken seriously, framing the Ukraine conflict as rooted in Western “encirclement policies.”
Putin’s remarks, though familiar, carried added weight in Tianjin’s setting, where sympathetic ears from India and China were present. With Russia’s economy under pressure from sanctions and its global markets reconfigured, the SCO has become central to Moscow’s strategy of building alternative partnerships.
Putin also advanced proposals on energy cooperation within the bloc. He stressed the importance of energy security, highlighting Russia’s role as a key provider of oil, gas, and coal to Asian markets. These comments resonated with multiple SCO states seeking long-term stable supply chains outside the West’s sphere.
Narendra Modi Stresses Fight Against Terrorism
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus was on counterterrorism, an issue that India consistently prioritizes in multilateral forums. Modi emphasized the need for collective strategies to combat extremist groups targeting South Asia, directly referencing the recent attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which shook India’s security establishment.
At the same time, Modi adopted a pragmatic approach by holding bilateral meetings with both Xi and Putin. With China, discussions centered on resolving long-standing border disputes, particularly those flaring intermittently along the Line of Actual Control. The two leaders reportedly agreed to advance ongoing talks aimed at de-escalation and border management, a signal that the two Asian giants may be willing to reduce tensions in pursuit of broader strategic gains.
In his meeting with Putin, Modi reaffirmed energy cooperation and India’s continued oil imports from Russia despite U.S. criticism. Indian officials underscored that diversification of supply chains remains a strategic necessity, with discounted Russian crude providing a vital cushion for India’s fast-expanding energy needs.
Criticism of U.S. and Israeli Actions
Collectively, the summit participants issued statements condemning recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, aligning with their broader message against unilateral military interventions. This united stance not only echoed long-standing grievances over Western “double standards” but also highlighted a growing convergence on Middle Eastern security issues.
For China and Russia, closer engagement with Iran provides economic and strategic dividends. For India, which has historically balanced ties between Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv, the joint communique reflected a delicate diplomatic maneuver, emphasizing shared principles while maintaining room for independent policy moves.
Historical Context of the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has come a long way since its inception in 2001, when it primarily focused on regional stability and counterterrorism across Central Asia. Initially composed of six founding members—China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—the bloc gradually expanded its scope of activity.
India and Pakistan joined in 2017, significantly enlarging the SCO’s geopolitical relevance. With more than 40% of the world’s population represented, the group has become one of the largest multilateral organizations outside of the United Nations. Its informal positioning as a counterweight to NATO and the G7 has made it a focal point of discussions about the evolving multipolar world order.
Economic Significance
From an economic perspective, the SCO bloc commands vast natural resources, large-scale industrial bases, and fast-expanding consumer markets. China remains the key driver in infrastructure financing, while Russia provides energy security and India contributes vast digital and service-sector capacities.
During this year’s summit, leaders discussed expanding trade in local currencies, aiming to insulate regional economies from fluctuations in Western financial markets. The idea of moving beyond the U.S. dollar in energy and commodity trade has gained momentum, particularly after sanctions on Russia highlighted vulnerabilities in relying on dollar-based systems.
In addition, the SCO Business Forum held alongside the summit brought together hundreds of company executives, exploring opportunities in digital infrastructure, renewable energy, and cross-border commerce. The tone was optimistic, suggesting that despite geopolitical tensions, intra-SCO economic activity is on an upward trajectory.
Regional Comparisons and Global Reactions
Observers noted parallels between the SCO and other regional groupings such as BRICS, ASEAN, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. While ASEAN has concentrated on economic integration and the EU pioneered political and economic union, the SCO stands out as a platform where security and economics intersect in the Asian heartland.
Western reactions to the Tianjin summit were cautious. U.S. officials have repeatedly criticized India’s trade partnerships with Russia and expressed concern that China is using the SCO to expand its influence at the expense of Western allies. European capitals have similarly monitored the group’s activities, wary of its potential to shift economic balances away from Western markets.
In South Asia, reactions were mixed. While Pakistan welcomed greater focus on regional security cooperation, some domestic voices questioned whether the SCO risks aligning itself too strongly with one bloc of powers. Meanwhile, smaller Central Asian states expressed optimism that large-scale investment flows from China, Russia, and India could strengthen their struggling economies.
The Road Ahead for the SCO
As the Tianjin summit concluded, it became evident that the SCO is carving out a more assertive role in shaping Asia’s political and economic landscape. The visible unity between India, Russia, and China, despite their differences, reflected a shared recognition that the future world order is likely to feature competing centers of power rather than singular dominance.
For India, the SCO provides a platform to balance relations with great powers without committing fully to either the Western or Eastern bloc. For Russia, it remains a lifeline in an era of mounting sanctions and political isolation from Europe and the U.S. And for China, it is a strategic tool to expand influence across Eurasia, presenting itself as the anchor of regional stability and economic growth.
The Tianjin summit may not have produced sweeping new policies, but the symbolism of Modi, Putin, and Xi holding hands spoke louder than any communiqué. Against the backdrop of war, sanctions, and shifting alliances, the SCO’s message of multipolarity could shape the next chapter of global politics well beyond Asia.
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