In a display of geopolitical solidarity, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin gathered at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, highlighting strengthened ties among major non-Western powers. The event, hosted by Xi, underscored the bloc's push for a multipolar world order, coming against the backdrop of escalating US tariffs on India and broader economic pressures from Washington. The summit, the largest in SCO history with over 20 leaders in attendance, produced the Tianjin Declaration, which condemned terrorism, advocated for regional stability, and explicitly opposed unilateral coercive measures that undermine global trade. This stance appeared as a veiled critique of US policies, including sanctions on Russia and tariffs on India and China.
The highlight of the summit was the interactions among Modi, Xi, and Putin, who posed together in a widely circulated photo, smiling and conversing animatedly before the plenary session. The image captured a moment of apparent camaraderie, with Modi at the centre, flanked by Xi and Putin, symbolising a potential revival of the Russia-India-China troika amid global shifts. Analysts noted the optics served as a message to the US, where President Donald Trump has imposed punitive measures on nations engaging with Russia, including a 50% tariff on Indian goods effective August 27, 2025, for India's continued purchases of Russian oil. These tariffs, doubling from an initial 25%, have strained India-US relations, with estimates suggesting a potential $37 billion drop in Indian exports to the US, impacting sectors like textiles, gems, and chemicals.
A notable bilateral moment came during Modi's separate meeting with Putin, where the two leaders traveled together in Putin's armoured Aurus Senat limousine from the SCO venue to their discussion site. Putin reportedly waited 10 minutes for Modi to join him, emphasising their personal rapport. Even after arriving at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, the pair continued their conversation in the car for an additional 45 minutes before formal talks began. Modi shared a photo on social media, captioning it: "After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful." During the hour-long session, they discussed deepening cooperation in trade, energy, security, and culture, while exchanging views on Ukraine. Modi reiterated India's support for peace initiatives, stressing a "durable peace settlement," while Putin appreciated efforts by India and China to resolve the conflict.
This informal car ride echoed past gestures of friendship between Modi and Putin, such as their 2024 golf cart drive in Moscow, but gained added significance amid US pressures. India, now facing one of the highest US tariff rates alongside Brazil, has defended its Russian oil imports - valued at $52 billion last year, as essential for energy security and compliant with international norms. The tariffs risk slashing India's GDP growth by 0.3-0.5% and disrupting supply chains, prompting Delhi to explore diversification and relief measures for exporters. In response, Modi emphasised during the summit that "no double standards on terrorism will be acceptable," aligning with the declaration's call to combat cross-border threats.
Modi's bilateral with Xi, his first in-person meeting with the Chinese leader in seven years, focused on stabilising ties strained since the 2020 Galwan clashes. They discussed economic cooperation, border peace, and mutual concerns like terrorism, with Modi noting both nations as "victims" of the scourge. Xi proposed viewing each other as "partners, not rivals," signalling a thaw amid shared frustrations with US policies. The declaration's rejection of "unilateral coercive measures, including those of an economic nature," reinforced this unity, implicitly targeting US sanctions and tariffs that violate WTO principles.
