Modi, Putin & Xi at the SCO Summit 2025: A Geopolitical  Modi, Putin & Xi at the SCO Summit 2025: A Geopolitical Tango in Tianjin

The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin wasn’t just another diplomatic gathering. It felt like a grand stage performance featuring three powerful characters: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (the Tiger), Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (the Bear), and China’s President Xi Jinping (the Dragon). Together, they created a spectacle that blended symbolism, strategy, and subtle power play.

A Hug, A Car Ride, A Message

The highlight of the summit? A warm hug between Modi and Putin, followed by a joint car ride after the sessions. These visuals spoke louder than any press release. The message was clear: the India–Russia friendship remains “special and privileged.” Conversations between the two were described as “always insightful,” underlining deep trust despite global shifts.

Modi’s SCO Formula: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity

In his address, Prime Minister Modi introduced a sharp, three-word mantra for the SCO:

• S for Security – He condemned the Pahalgam terror attack as an assault on India’s collective conscience, calling on SCO nations to unite against double standards on terrorism.

• C for Connectivity – While China promoted its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Modi emphasized trust-based connectivity through projects like Chabahar Port and the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC). “Connectivity that undermines

• sovereignty cannot build trust,” he declared.

• O for Opportunity – Modi urged the bloc to focus on trade, technology, and youth opportunities to drive shared growth.

Xi’s Vision: A New World Order

President Xi Jinping took the stage with a bold pitch: the need for a multipolar global order. His proposals included:

• A SCO Development Bank

• An Artificial Intelligence innovation hub

• Even plans for a joint lunar research station

Xi’s speech criticized “Cold War mentalities, bullying behavior, and confrontation,” presenting China as an architect of alternative global systems—away from Western dominance.

Putin’s Balancing Act

Putin, flanked by both India and China, reinforced Russia’s call for multipolarity and resistance against Western militarization. His embrace of Modi signaled Moscow’s continued faith in New Delhi as a strategic partner, even as Russia leans on China amidst its own tensions with the West.

Symbolism in Every Frame

Beyond speeches, the summit was a masterclass in visual diplomacy.

• A viral photo showed Modi, Putin, and Xi walking together—an image interpreted as the “Troika of the Global South.”

• Another iconic shot captured Modi and Putin inside the same car, laughing and conversing—proof that India remains central in balancing East and West.

These moments transformed politics into powerful imagery, each frame telling its own geopolitical story.

The Big Picture: South Asia’s Chessboard Redrawn

The Tianjin SCO Summit showed how geopolitics can sometimes look like poetry. Modi delivered his TCO formula (Security, Connectivity, Opportunity), Putin revived the multipolar narrative, and Xi outlined a bold blueprint for the Global South.

Together, their performance wasn’t just a tug-of-war—it was more like a carefully choreographed dance. The result? The chessboard of South Asia has been redrawn, and the SCO has emerged as a stage for shaping a new world order.

References

• In Pics: PM Modi attends SCO summit in Tianjin and shares a hug with Putin

• China's Xi pushes a new global order, flanked by leaders of Russia and India

• What Modi, Putin & Xi said at SCO Summit