The global stage is witnessing a pivotal moment: the 25th SCO Summit, held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025, has brought Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Chinese President Xi Jinping together under one roof after years of strategic recalibration.
This summit marks not just presence but, in symbolism, a rare showcase of camaraderie among the RIC (Russia‑India‑China) trio. Smiles, handshakes, and warm embraces punctuated their interactions, reinforcing a visual narrative of solidarity.
Each leader brought weight: Xi invoked the metaphor of the “dragon and elephant”—China and India—as partners, not adversaries.
Modi framed the SCO as a platform for “Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity”, reiterating India’s zero-tolerance against terrorism and calling out double standards.
While Putin criticized Western provocations, underscoring the SCO as a counterbalance to Western dominance.
In his address at the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Tianjin on Monday, Xi said, “We must uphold fairness and justice. We must promote a correct view of World War II history and oppose the Cold War mentality, block confrontation, and bullying.”
“We must uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and support the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core. We must advocate for an equal and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization and promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system,” Xi said.
Xi, Modi, and Putin showcase the group’s Power
At the SCO Summit, the optics of the three leaders—Modi, Putin, and Xi—spoke volumes. From affectionate gestures like hugs and handshakes to shared rides and collective smiles, the summit spotlighted their collaborative tone and strategic chemistry. While symbolic, these interactions conveyed a deeper narrative: of emerging alignment and mutual reassurance in an increasingly multipolar world—just as much a veiled declaration as diplomacy in action.
Modi and Xi Jinping used the summit’s sidelines to reassure each other of their commitment to being “development partners, not rivals.” Their handshake and engaging posture symbolized a tentative rapprochement following years of tensions.
Modi and Putin shared a notably warm moment—a genuine hug—followed by walking hand in hand toward the group photo, visibly at ease with one another. Modi later wrote, “Always a delight to meet President Putin!”
The duo then walked over to President Xi, and the trio huddled into a warm and friendly conversation. The trio’s body language — including handshakes, laughter, and visible ease — conveyed a unified front, suggesting strategic camaraderie. Modi and Putin later opted to travel together in the same car to their bilateral meeting, underscoring their personal rapport.
The summit has been a big setback to the Western lobby in many ways. The narrative that Putin is alone has been dismissed, with leaders swarming to meet the Russian President. The notion that China would not be seen as an alternative to the US has also been challenged as Xi Jinping addressed the leaders of about half the world, stamping the legitimacy of China’s rise and the power of the SCO.
On the other hand, the Indian Prime Minister Modi has also shown the West that he will not accept bullying and pressure terms from anyone, not even the US, as he asserted India’s sovereignty after assuring, he would continue to buy Russian oil despite the tariffs. This might be the beginning of a lobby that has showcased that it is ready to replace the Western hegemony led by the US.
