Modi, Xi, Putin Meet at SCO Summit in Tianjin Signaling Geopolitical Shift

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Russian President Vladimir Putin presented a united front signaling an alternative global order to U.S. dominance. Despite ongoing border tensions and mutual distrust between India and China, Modi emphasized peace and stability, while also maintaining India’s strategic partnerships with both Russia and China amid U.S. tariffs and economic pressure. Xi called for a new global security and economic framework that rejects Cold War mentalities, positioning the SCO as a platform for fairness and multipolar governance. The summit highlighted cooperation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, as a counterbalance to U.S.-led initiatives. Media widely circulated images of the three leaders holding hands and laughing, symbolizing their political alignment and challenging U.S. influence. The event underscored India's delicate diplomatic balancing act between maintaining ties with China and Russia while navigating strained relations with the United States.