On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, all eyes were fixed on the highly anticipated interaction between three of the world’s most influential leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While their conversations were rooted in formal diplomacy, the visible camaraderie and warm exchanges between the trio carried an added weight, particularly in the context of recent tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The meeting came after a period of escalating trade tensions. Trump had recently imposed a 25% additional tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This move followed a prior threat of a massive 100% tariff on Russia itself if a peace deal was not reached. The situation was complicated by the fact that China, not India, is the largest buyer of Russian oil, putting the spotlight on what many see as a targeted move against New Delhi.
A Show of Unity and Strength
Even before the SCO summit officially began on Monday, visuals of the three leaders emerged, displaying a remarkable sense of bonhomie, laughter, and camaraderie. A video that quickly went viral showed Modi, Xi, and Putin walking side-by-side, sharing a light-hearted huddle after a photo-op. Another notable image captured the three of them in a huddle, with PM Modi speaking and the other two leaders listening intently. This public display of unity was widely interpreted as an unspoken message of strength directed at Washington.
Further enhancing the perception of a strong trilateral bond, another video showed PM Modi holding President Putin’s hand as they walked towards Xi Jinping. The three leaders then engaged in a seemingly jovial conversation with their interpreters.
Later, two more pictures posted by PM Modi on his social media account, X, drew significant attention: one of him seated in the backseat of a car with President Putin before their bilateral talks, and another of the two leaders sharing a hug. “Always a delight to meet President Putin!” PM Modi wrote, reaffirming the strong ties between India and Russia.
Reaffirming Bilateral Ties Amidst Geopolitical Rifts
During their bilateral talks, both India and Russia reaffirmed their strong diplomatic relationship. PM Modi stated that close cooperation between the two countries is “critical for global peace,” a sentiment echoed by Putin, who described the ties as “very good” and expressed confidence that the meeting would further strengthen the relationship.
Separately, PM Modi also met with President Xi Jinping, marking their first interaction since the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in 2024. Their meeting followed a major breakthrough in negotiations a year ago that aimed to resolve the prolonged border standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Xi reportedly stated that “as long as the two countries remain partners rather than rivals…China-India relations will flourish and move forward steadily,” while PM Modi stressed the importance of peace and tranquility on the border.
The visible unity between the three leaders is seen by observers as a direct response to Trump’s recent comments and tariffs. While none of the leaders directly mentioned the U.S. President, their collective show of strength in China appears to be an unspoken message that they remain unfazed by the pressure from Washington.