Xi, Putin, Modi Unite at Summit to Counter Western Influence
Xi, Putin and Modi displayed smiles and clasped hands to signal unity at their recent summit. The leaders made a pledge to work together against the US-led global order. Their gathering served as a symbolic challenge to Western dominance in international relations. These economic powerhouses represent nearly half the world’s population and play crucial roles in global energy and trade flows.
Economic relationships between these nations have changed dramatically. India and Russia’s trade surged to a record $68.7 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Russia now supplies about 37% of India’s total oil imports. Trump’s steep tariffs and White House rhetoric have so pushed New Delhi closer to China and Russia. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has emerged as the most important platform where these leaders present a united front against what they see as Western hegemony.
Xi, Putin and Modi pledge unity against Western dominance
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated diplomatic unity against Western influence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The three leaders projected solidarity through carefully staged photos that showed them holding hands, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, and sharing laughs while surrounded by interpreters.
Leaders call for multipolar world order
The summit showcased coordinated messages from all three leaders who supported a move away from US-dominated global governance. Xi urged attendees to “advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and make the global governance system more just and equitable”. He committed 2 billion yuan (AED 1028.14 million) in grants to SCO member states this year. The commitment included 10 billion yuan (AED 5.14 billion) in loans over the next three years.
Putin reinforced these ideas by describing the SCO as laying “the groundwork for a new system of security in Eurasia” that would “replace the outdated Eurocentric and Euro-Atlantic models”. The new system would “take into account the interests of the broadest possible range of countries” rather than allowing “some states to ensure their security at the expense of others”.
Modi aligned with his counterparts and spoke about “promoting multilateralism and an inclusive world order” – suggesting a system where countries like India would have stronger influence in global affairs. The Tianjin declaration condemned Israeli and US strikes on Iran in June 2025 and terrorism in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region.
Summit framed as alternative to US-led alliances
Speakers positioned the SCO as a counterweight to Western institutions consistently. Xi criticized what he termed “hegemonism,” “Cold War mentality” and “bullying practices” in veiled references to the United States. He emphasized that “the house rules of a few countries should not be imposed on others”.
The SCO represents significant global influence, governing 40% of the world’s population and accounting for about 25% of global GDP. The organization started in 2001 with six Eurasian nations and expanded to include India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus.
Iran’s addition in 2023 and Belarus in 2024 suggested Beijing and Moscow’s efforts to make the body more explicitly anti-Western. The organization avoids direct anti-US statements, yet its collective rhetoric often challenges unilateralism and Western dominance.
China proposes new global security framework
Image Source: Reuters
Chinese President Xi Jinping showed his “Global Governance Initiative” at the SCO summit. He presented it as his latest policy framework that aims to reshape international relations. The initiative targets the Global South and challenges U.S.-led international organizations that came up after World War II.
Xi outlines vision for Global South cooperation
Xi’s strategy centers on major financial commitments. He pledged 2 billion yuan (AED 1028.14 million) in aid to SCO member states this year. He also promised 10 billion yuan (AED 5.14 billion) in loans through an SCO banking consortium. The Chinese leader wants to create a new SCO development bank. This move could help create a different payment system that works around U.S. dollar and American sanctions.
“We should continue to dismantle walls, not erect them; seek integration, not decoupling,” Xi said, highlighting his vision of inclusive economic globalization. His plans went beyond money matters. He offered to build an AI cooperation center for SCO nations and asked them to join China’s lunar research station.
Beijing positions SCO as counterbalance to NATO
Xi described the SCO as “a model for a new type of international relations.” He sees it as an alternative to Western groups like NATO and the G7. Throughout his speech, he asked members to stand against what he called “hegemonism,” “Cold War mentality,” and “bullying practices”.
Putin backed this view strongly. He said the SCO brought back “genuine multilateralism” and was building “a new system of stability and security in Eurasia”. The Russian president stressed that unlike “Euro-centric and Euro-Atlantic models,” this security system would “genuinely consider the interests of a broad range of countries”.
Beijing’s diplomatic words reflect China’s push to grow its influence. The SCO declaration criticized the “unilateral and unrestricted build-up” of missile defense systems. Many observers saw this as a direct criticism of the United States. Xi wants to develop what he termed a “universal center” for the SCO. This center would have branches that deal with “challenges and threats” through more intelligence sharing and anti-drug efforts.
India asserts strategic autonomy amid global shifts
Image Source: PBS
Prime Minister Narendra Modi displayed a strong diplomatic position at the SCO summit. His stance highlighted India’s dedication to strategic autonomy as the global world becomes increasingly polarized. The summit revealed how India carefully balanced its relationships between major powers while facing mounting pressure from Washington.
Modi balances ties with Russia, China, and the West
Modi made it clear at the Tianjin gathering that India-China relations should not be viewed “through the lens of a third country”. His meeting with Xi Jinping emphasized both nations’ “strategic autonomy” while he advocated for greater cooperation on bilateral and global issues. The warm handshake with Putin and their shared car ride to their bilateral meeting sent a clear message about India’s independent foreign policy. Modi stood firm on India’s core security concerns despite these gestures toward Russia and China. He called for unified action against terrorism with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif present.
India defends Russian oil imports despite US pressure
The US doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, but India strongly defended its Russian crude purchases. Oil Minister Hardeep Puri responded directly to US officials who accused India of being a “laundromat” for Russian oil. He stated that “India’s adherence to all international norms prevented a catastrophic AED 734.39 per barrel shock”. India buys approximately 1.5 million barrels of Russian crude daily and has become the largest buyer of seaborne Russian crude. These purchases now make up about 40% of India’s oil needs, a dramatic increase from 3% in 2021.
Analysts interpret India’s stance as multi-alignment
Foreign policy experts see India’s approach as “multi-alignment” – a strategy to keep strategic flexibility by working with a variety of powers. This approach worked well during the unpredictable policies of President Trump’s administration. India keeps strong Russian ties even as it moves closer to the US because Moscow acts as a “continental counterbalance to Beijing”. Russia’s position as a key UN Security Council member with veto power, reliable arms supplier, and vital energy source remains important. External Affairs Minister Jaishankar summed it up: “This is a time for us to involve America, manage China, foster Europe, reassure Russia”.
Summit optics signal shifting global alliances
Image Source: France 24
The world watched as leaders of China, Russia, and India stood close together on the red carpet in Tianjin. This moment went beyond typical diplomatic formalities and showed how global power dynamics were changing.
Viral photo of Xi, Putin, Modi sparks debate
The spotlight fell on Modi when he grabbed Putin and Xi’s hands and drew them closer in a show of unity. Putin started saying “We three friends…” before the broadcast sound cut off, as interpreters joined their circle. Modi and Putin had already shared a warm hug and walked hand-in-hand toward Xi, who greeted them with a smile. Later, Modi rode with Putin in his limousine to their meeting – something rare given Putin’s strict security rules.
Experts decode symbolism of trilateral camaraderie
These carefully planned gestures aimed to send a strong message. “Optics is a key part of this summit, and the White House should grasp that its policies will result in other countries looking for alternatives,” said Manoj Kewalramani from the Takshashila Institution. The three-way talks brought back the Russia-India-China (RIC) format, which had been quiet since their 2018 G20 meeting in Argentina. Alfred Wu from Singapore’s National University noted: “Xi Jinping clearly wants to challenge the post-World War II global order dominated by the United States”.
SCO’s growing relevance in a fragmented world
SCO has grown well beyond its 2001 roots and now represents over 41% of global population and 34% of worldwide GDP. This summit brought together more than 20 world leaders, including the UN Secretary-General – making it the largest SCO gathering ever. Beijing uses the SCO to show “true multilateralism” against what it sees as American unilateralism. All the same, this show of unity hides deeper issues, like the ongoing China-India border dispute.
Xi, Putin, and Modi’s strategic lineup at the SCO summit marks a major move in global power dynamics. Their united stance against Western dominance shows the rise of a multipolar world order. Countries from the Global South now want better representation. These three powers have their differences but found common ground to challenge the US-led international system.
Trade relationships between these nations have grown stronger. India-Russia trade has hit record levels, and Russia has become India’s key oil supplier. China has established itself as another center of influence through financial commitments and new institutions like the SCO development bank. These economic bonds boost their collective bargaining power globally.
The leaders arranged their public displays of unity with purpose. They held hands, shared transportation, and engaged in warm talks. These gestures sent a clear message to Washington – its policies might bring these nations closer instead of driving them apart. The Russia-India-China format’s revival after years shows their resolve to work together on shared interests.
India’s balancing act stands out as it follows what experts call “multi-alignment.” The country keeps its strategic options open while dealing with competing global powers. India has strongly defended its Russian oil imports despite US pressure. The country needs these imports for energy security. This stance shows India’s dedication to strategic freedom in today’s complex international landscape.
The SCO has grown into a powerful organization. It now represents over 41% of the global population and 34% of worldwide GDP. Iran and Belarus joining the group suggests it wants to be an alternative to Western institutions. Yet some internal issues remain unresolved, like the China-India border dispute, which could hold back deeper cooperation.
Global fragmentation moves faster now, and this three-way relationship will shape future international relations. The world faces a time of realignment where traditional alliances face questions and new partnerships form. These powers’ success in countering Western influence depends on turning symbolic gestures into real cooperation. They must also manage their competing interests as the world order changes rapidly.
