India’s Modi bonded with Putin and Xi at the SCO summit, sending a pointed signal as U.S. tariffs bite.
At a Glance
- Modi, Putin, and Xi held hands and appeared together at the SCO summit in Tianjin
- Modi rode in Putin’s limousine and called talks with him “insightful”
- Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports over Russian oil trade
- Xi condemned “bullying behavior” in a veiled swipe at Washington
- Modi reaffirmed his “special and privileged” ties with Russia
SCO Summit Optics
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to China in seven years placed him squarely alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin. Cameras captured the three leaders walking together, laughing, and even holding hands—a striking image of alignment among major Eurasian powers. Modi deepened the symbolism by accepting a ride in Putin’s limousine. He later posted on X, praising his talks with Putin as “insightful.”
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The summit comes just days after President Donald Trump levied sweeping 50% tariffs on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s ongoing purchases of discounted Russian oil. U.S. officials argue that this trade indirectly helps bankroll Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Modi’s embrace of Putin and Xi provided a public counterweight to Washington’s move, highlighting India’s preference for multipolar engagement.
Xi’s Warning and Modi’s Balancing Act
Xi Jinping used his stage time in Tianjin to denounce “bullying behavior,” a phrase widely interpreted as directed at U.S. trade and security policies. He called for deeper multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework, which groups several Asian states under a collective security and economic banner.
Modi followed a careful script, emphasizing India’s partnership role rather than rivalry with China. This was notable given the tense history along their contested border. His language suggested India intends to keep lines open with Beijing while managing disputes discreetly. Modi’s balancing highlighted his intent to safeguard India’s autonomy in navigating ties with both Washington and Beijing.
Russia’s Place in India’s Strategy
Putin, for his part, reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to its “special and privileged strategic partnership” with India. The two leaders discussed defense cooperation and preparations for Putin’s planned state visit to New Delhi in December. Russia remains a critical energy supplier to India, which has steadily increased its imports of discounted Russian oil since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
While India has expanded defense and economic links with the United States through forums like the Quad, Modi’s display of solidarity with Putin and Xi showed his unwillingness to choose sides. Analysts see this as part of a long-term Indian strategy of strategic autonomy—leveraging ties with multiple powers to avoid dependency on any single bloc.
Implications for Global Power Play
The imagery from Tianjin—Modi riding with Putin, clasping hands with Xi, and smiling on stage—was as much about message as substance. No binding agreements emerged, but the coordinated public show of unity reinforced the three leaders’ shared resistance to Western dominance.
For Washington, the timing could not be worse. Trump’s tariffs aimed to isolate India over its Russia trade, but the SCO summit produced the opposite effect: New Delhi spotlighting its alignment with Moscow and Beijing. The optics may harden fault lines between the West and a Eurasian axis of powers seeking alternative systems of trade and security.
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