There were smiles, shaking of hands as Modi, Xi and Putin signalled unity in a display of friendship in China aimed at projecting an alternative to US global leadership despite serious differences among them. The PM’s China visit saw India reaffirming enduring ties with Moscow, sending a clear message to Beijing on border peace amid a subtle overture from Washington that India-US relations are a cornerstone of 21st-century geopolitics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin turned into a masterclass in diplomatic balancing, as he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping — all while receiving a subtle message of strategic interest from the United States. There were smiles, shaking of hands as Modi, Xi and Putin signalled unity in a display of friendship in China aimed at projecting an alternative to US global leadership despite serious differences among them. The three leaders said the right words, what they wanted to convey to people back home and the world in general.
The PM’s China visit saw India reaffirming enduring ties with Moscow, sending a clear message to Beijing on border peace amid a subtle overture from Washington that India-US relations are a cornerstone of 21st-century geopolitics.
Concluding a productive visit to China, where I attended the SCO Summit and interacted with various world leaders. Also emphasised India’s stand on key global issues. Thankful to President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government and people for the successful organisation of this Summit, PM Modi wrote on X
Modi-Putin
Meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi underlined the strength of the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia. Despite global concerns around India’s continued crude oil purchases from Russia, both leaders expressed “satisfaction” over the growing cooperation in energy, trade, and finance.
“The leaders reaffirmed support for further strengthening of the partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, describing the meeting as forward-looking and focused on pragmatic cooperation.
Modi-Trump
Interestingly, a couple of minutes before the Modi-Putin bilateral began, the US Embassy in India posted a message from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling the India-US partnership “a defining relationship of the 21st century.” Rubio, a key voice in US President Donald Trump’s administration, praised the ongoing momentum between the two democracies in innovation, defence, and entrepreneurship.
While the US message was not directly linked to the SCO events, its timing and content were widely interpreted as a reminder of Washington’s strategic expectations as New Delhi deepens ties with Moscow.
Modi-Xi
PM Modi’s talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping were the first such interaction since October last year. Their meeting focused on trade, direct flight resumption, and environmental cooperation, but the spotlight remained firmly on the unresolved boundary tensions.
The Prime Minister reiterated that peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is crucial for bilateral progress. “The Prime Minister underlined the importance of peace and tranquillity on the border areas,” said the MEA.
President Xi, however, urged both sides not to let the boundary issue define the relationship, referring to India and China as “the elephant and the dragon” — symbolic of coexistence and global influence.
