At the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Tianjin on September 1, a striking moment occurred—Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin stood shoulder to shoulder, projecting a powerful image of emerging unity among non‑Western powers. This summit, coming amid escalating trade tensions and geopolitical rivalry with the United States, was laden with symbolism and strategic signaling. With Modi’s attendance marking a significant diplomatic deviation, the event prompted fresh discourse on a shifting global order.

A Rare Show of Solidarity

For Modi, this was his first visit to China in over seven years—a significant thaw in bilateral ties following the lethal 2020 Galwan Valley clashes . His presence, alongside Putin and Xi, created an unprecedented image of solidarity among leaders who are often perceived as operating outside the Western orbit. The optics were deliberate: Putin and Modi held hands walking into the summit, then posed laughing together with Xi—gestures that went viral across social media

A Defiant Message to the U.S.

Xi leveraged the platform to promote his vision for a new global governance framework, one defined by sovereignty, multilateralism, and resistance to “hegemonism and power politics”—widely interpreted as a critique of U.S. policy under President Trump He announced a development bank for SCO members, committed 2 billion yuan in aid, and pledged 10 billion yuan in loans, signaling China’s intent to supplant Western-led institutions

Putin echoed the challenge to U.S. dominance, blaming NATO expansion and Western interference for the crisis in Ukraine and advocating for a Eurasian security system less reliant on Euro‑Atlantic models. Modi, meanwhile, used his remarks to push back against unilateral U.S. tariffs, asserting India’s strategic autonomy and underscoring a shift in alignment—even as India remained cautious not to fully endorse the summit as anti‑American

Realpolitik and Strategic Rebalancing

Analysts characterized the summit as a strategic setback for the U.S., arguing that Modi’s visible alignment with Xi and Putin undermined decades of U.S. diplomatic investment in India as a counterbalance to China

Yet, experts warn against viewing this as the formation of a cohesive anti‑Western bloc. Rather, each leader is pursuing national self-interest: China aims to counter U.S. influence, Russia seeks to reduce its isolation, and India is reasserting its independence amid trade frictions with Trump’s administration .

Toward a Multipolar Order

The images and messaging from the SCO summit evoke echoes of the Primakov Triangle—a revival of strategic cooperation among Russia, India, and China aimed at reshaping global power dynamics

With India rejecting the U.S. pressure on curbing Russian oil imports, pursuing startups and cultural engagement, and urging SCO institutions to reform global governance, the summit represents a turning point toward multipolarity and Global South solidarity

Geopolitical Implications

This summit could reshape several dimensions of international relations:

Global Institutions: The promise of a new SCO development bank and promotion of alternatives to the U.S. dollar challenge the Bretton Woods legacy

Regional Influence: A more consolidated SCO strengthens China’s and Russia’s roles in Eurasian affairs, even as India asserts an independent path

Diplomatic Messaging: The summit broadcasts to the Global South a model of cooperation independent of Western frameworks, appealing to countries feeling squeezed by U.S. tariffs and sanctions

U.S. Strategy: Modi’s appearance disrupted long-standing U.S. expectations of India as a reliable ally against China, demanding Washington recalibrate its approach.

Conclusion

The Shanghai Shock” may not herald the birth of a formal anti-American bloc—but it symbolizes a tectonic shift. In Tianjin, Xi, Putin, and Modi staged more than a photo op—they signaled the quiet emergence of a multipolar world, where the U.S.’s unchallenged dominance is increasingly contested.

India’s strategic dance—cooperating with both East and West—underscores realpolitik’s resurgence. For the U.S., the message is clear: diplomatic complacency in a changing world order could have long-term consequences.