New Delhi : The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China (Aug 31–Sep 1, 2025), turned into a key stage for global diplomacy, as India showcased its strategic autonomy while balancing ties with the United States, Russia, and China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the summit and held one-on-one meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. These engagements signaled India’s intention to rebuild trust with Beijing, strengthen energy and defense partnerships with Moscow, and resist external pressure from Washington.
Modi underlined that India would not allow border tensions with China to define the entire relationship. Xi Jinping echoed this, saying the two nations should not let disputes obstruct cooperation. Modi also discussed regional stability with Putin, emphasizing multipolarity and economic partnerships that could shield India from tariff shocks imposed by the US.
US President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions by reaffirming punitive tariffs on Indian goods. In response, Indian officials emphasized that the country would diversify its trade networks across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Modi’s participation in SCO, along with his stopover in Japan to strengthen Quad ties, conveyed that India would cooperate with the US when interests aligned but would not compromise its sovereignty.
The Beijing military parade on September 3, marking Japan’s WWII surrender, captured international attention. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un walked together, projecting unity against the US. Putin praised Kim for supporting Russia in Ukraine and pledged deeper nuclear cooperation with China.
Trump accused China of conspiring against the US and reminded the world of America’s military strength. Putin dismissed Trump’s comments with humor, calling them exaggerated, while stressing that peace talks with Washington remained essential. By doing so, Putin positioned himself as both Xi’s ally and Trump’s negotiator—a balancing act that also influenced India’s space at the summit.
Modi highlighted India’s “nation-first” approach. He told Xi that peace on the border remained essential for cooperation. At the same time, he reassured Putin of India’s commitment to energy partnerships, including continued Russian oil imports despite US objections. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal reinforced this stance by confirming that trade talks with Washington would resume once conditions allowed.
India also used SCO to strengthen its voice on global development and multipolarity. By rejecting “unilateral bullying,” a clear reference to Trump’s tariffs, India demonstrated that it could resist pressure while engaging in dialogue with all sides.
India’s role at SCO 2025 reflected a confident foreign policy shaped by sovereignty, flexibility, and balance. By engaging with Russia and China while keeping ties with the US and Japan intact, India proved it could navigate a fragmented world order. The summit elevated India’s image as a power capable of shaping global debates on security, trade, and peace.
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