With love, from China at SCO 2025

The 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin showcased India, Russia, and China's growing alignment, signaling a shift in global power dynamics and challenging US influence. Key images highlighted Modi's warm interactions with Putin and Xi, symbolizing strengthened ties. Modi took a central role, flanked by Putin and Xi, emphasizing India’s position alongside major powers. Pakistan’s PM faced a diplomatic snub, while Modi’s ride with Putin in a luxury car underscored their rapport. Modi’s bilateral with Xi reflected efforts to ease border tensions and diversify India’s global partnerships.

Report: Positive Outcomes of the SCO Summit 2025

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, marked a transformative moment for India, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined leaders of Russia and China after a seven-year hiatus. The summit highlighted India’s growing influence and its pivotal role in fostering a new global order alongside Russia and China.

PM Modi’s participation, hosted by President Xi Jinping, signified a strategic shift eastward amidst challenges posed by US trade policies. His bilateral meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their “special partnership,” underscoring mutual respect and shared principles. Modi’s warm rapport with both Putin and Xi, reflected in powerful images from the summit, symbolized India’s emergence as a key player in Eurasian geopolitics.

A notable highlight was the strong optics of Modi walking at the center, flanked by Putin and Xi, cementing India’s position in this influential triad. Additionally, Modi’s fruitful bilateral with Xi showcased efforts to resolve border tensions and promote peace, while emphasizing India’s openness to global partnerships.

The summit also saw a unified stance on terrorism, with SCO members aligning with India’s perspective, subtly sidelining Pakistan’s PM. Modi’s ride with Putin in the luxury Aurus car further spotlighted their camaraderie and India’s elevated global status.

The SCO Summit 2025 showcased India’s growing role in shaping a multipolar world order, signaling that it is ready to lead alongside major powers while maintaining independence in its strategic decisions.

As the SCO summit concluded, several images emerged, showcasing the strong camaraderie between Modi, Putin, and Xi. Experts believe these visuals are more than just photographs—they are intentional messages to the global community, particularly aimed at Trump.

Hugs and smiles

The first image shared by Modi from the summit appeared to subtly counter Trump’s remark about India and Russia being “dead economies” that could only trade with each other. Modi and Putin exchanged warm hugs, firm handshakes, and smiles as they walked together to meet Xi Jinping.

“Always a delight to meet President Putin!” Modi posted.

These images quickly prompted a subtle response from the United States. Shortly after they went viral, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented that the partnership between the two nations “continues to reach new heights.” He further emphasized, “The enduring friendship between our two peoples forms the foundation of our cooperation and drives us forward as we unlock the immense potential of our economic relationship.”

The handshake after 7 long years

Despite ongoing border tensions with China, PM Modi and President Xi held a bilateral meeting, which Modi described as “fruitful.”

“We reviewed the positive progress in China-India relations since our last meeting in Kazan,” Modi stated, emphasizing that both leaders agreed on the importance of maintaining peace in border areas.

India’s approach highlights its strategic independence, demonstrating that it is not solely reliant on the US for exports and remains open to recalibrating its global partnerships to contribute to a new and balanced world order.

Elephant-Dragon-Bear Together

The leaders of India, Russia, and China—symbolically referred to as the Elephant, Dragon, and Bear—were seen walking side by side at the SCO Summit, presenting a powerful image of unity. Notably, PM Modi took center stage, with Putin on his right and Xi on his left.

In another striking image, Xi and Putin were captured listening attentively to the Indian Prime Minister, reinforcing the notion that India is standing shoulder to shoulder with two of the world’s major powers. This trio represents a significant shift in the global order.

As Wendy Cutler, Senior Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute, observed, “Recent US trade policies are driving new partnerships, reviving negotiations, and fostering relationships that once seemed unattainable.”

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif Snubbed

Following an earlier snub at the SCO Defence Ministers’ meeting, the SCO members further leaned toward India’s stance on terrorism by including Pahalgam in their joint statement. Despite PM Shehbaz Sharif receiving a cold shoulder at the summit, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir stepped in to salvage the situation, planning to meet Putin and stay for the parade in China.

Munir also had lunch with Trump at the White House, during which Trump extended an invitation to Modi. However, Modi declined, as Indian officials speculated it might lead to an awkward photo opportunity with Munir.

The Final Nail in the Coffin

A defining moment of the summit was the image of Modi and Putin sitting together in the luxury Aurus car. This moment symbolically elevated Modi to the same level as Trump in his relationship with Putin, as the US President had similarly shared a solo car ride with Putin in Atlanta weeks earlier.

When sharing the picture, Trump remarked that they traveled together to the bilateral meeting venue, adding, “Conversations with him are always insightful.” This reinforced the growing bond between India and Russia while subtly redefining global dynamics.