Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest round of diplomacy highlights India’s delicate balancing act on the world stage. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, Modi shared the spotlight with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a series of engagements that carried significant geopolitical weight.
The optics of these meetings came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on Indian imports, including a 25 percent duty linked specifically to New Delhi’s energy trade with Moscow.
Against that backdrop, Modi’s interactions with Putin and Xi were widely read as a statement of India’s strategic intent — one that balances ties with the West while keeping longstanding partnerships with Russia and China intact.
How Modi, Xi and Putin Projected Unity
The two-day SCO summit became a major stage for global power dynamics. Modi joined leaders from Russia, China, Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asia in what observers described as a show of Global South solidarity.
For Modi, it was also a milestone — his first visit to China in seven years. His warm interactions with both Putin and Xi drew significant attention. Images of Modi and Putin walking hand-in-hand before greeting Xi quickly circulated online, with analysts interpreting the moment as a signal of defiance toward Washington.
The camaraderie extended beyond symbolism. Modi and Putin were photographed sharing a car, with the Indian leader posting on X, “Conversations with him are always insightful.”
During their formal talks, Modi highlighted the durability of Indo-Russian ties: “Russia and India have stood together in most difficult times too. Meeting with Putin always memorable… in December, we will wait for President Putin to visit India.”
Putin echoed the sentiment, calling the relationship “based on principles” and emphasizing “multifaceted cooperation.” He added, “There is a very trustworthy relationship between Russia and India — one that is not based on politics.”
Resetting India-China Relations
Equally significant was Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping. Relations between New Delhi and Beijing have been strained since the deadly 2020 Galwan Valley clash that killed 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers, sparking years of military buildup along their disputed 3,800-kilometer frontier.
Modi struck a conciliatory tone, stressing that India was “committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities.” He added that conditions of “peace and stability” at the border had opened new space for cooperation.
Xi responded with similar messaging, insisting the two nations should be seen as “each other’s development opportunities rather than threats.” He warned that the border issue should not “define the overall China-India relationship,” adding that ties could be “stable and far-reaching” if both sides avoided treating each other as adversaries.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later confirmed that the situation on the frontier has eased following an October agreement on patrolling. He said both leaders discussed ways to “take forward the economic and commercial relationship,” while acknowledging that global developments — including U.S. tariffs — loomed in the background.
The talks produced concrete steps. Modi announced that direct flights between India and China, suspended since 2020, will resume, though no timeline has been set. Beijing also lifted restrictions on exports of rare earths, fertilizers, and tunnel-boring machinery — moves expected to benefit India’s industrial and infrastructure sectors. Tourist visas and religious pilgrimages, suspended during the border standoff and pandemic, are being restored.
However, irritants remain. China’s planned hydropower project in Tibet has alarmed Indian officials, who fear reduced dry-season flows in the Brahmaputra River. Still, Beijing has signaled alignment with New Delhi on opposing U.S. tariffs. Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong recently said Beijing would “firmly stand with India.”
Japan’s $68 Billion Commitment
Modi’s China visit followed a landmark bilateral summit in Tokyo with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The two leaders unveiled the Economic Security Initiative, a $68 billion roadmap to strengthen supply chains in semiconductors, telecom, pharmaceuticals, and emerging technologies.
The Japan agreement highlighted how India is working to diversify partnerships — aligning more closely with U.S. allies even as it resists Washington’s push to sever links with Moscow and Beijing.
A Defining Moment for India’s Foreign Policy
Taken together, Modi’s engagements with Putin, Xi, and Ishiba reflect India’s evolving foreign policy posture. On one hand, New Delhi is deepening cooperation with democratic partners like Japan. On the other, it is resisting U.S. pressure by keeping close ties with Russia and cautiously rebuilding trust with China.
The SCO summit made one point clear: India is determined to chart its own course, balancing East and West, while signaling its role as a central player in the reshaping of global power.
