India, China, Russia Project Unity at SCO Summit, Undermining US Strategy
- By Thetripurapost Web Desk, Tianjin, China
- Sep 01, 2025
- 528
On the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, leaders of India, China and Russia displayed an unusual show of warmth and strategic convergence, raising questions over Washington’s efforts to recalibrate global power equations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Russia as a “special and privileged partner,” while Chinese President Xi Jinping said “the world’s two most populous countries need to be friends.” Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to Modi as a “dear friend” and even invited him for a ride in his armoured Aurus limousine, underscoring the personal rapport.
The optics suggested a closer alignment between New Delhi, Moscow and Beijing at a time when US President Donald Trump has sought to drive a wedge between Russia and China. Analysts said the development could represent a “Reverse Nixon” moment, turning Washington’s Cold War strategy on its head.
In 1972, then US President Richard Nixon’s outreach to Beijing shifted the global balance by exploiting the Sino-Soviet rift. Trump has attempted a similar strategy, seeking to weaken ties between Moscow and Beijing. However, recent moves appear to have had the opposite effect.
According to reports, tensions in India-US relations were aggravated not just by tariffs and oil sanctions but also by an unusual request from Trump to Modi to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The approach was viewed in New Delhi as inappropriate, diplomatic sources suggested.
At the Tianjin summit, Modi reaffirmed India’s long-standing ties with Russia. “Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always walked shoulder to shoulder,” he said, adding that the partnership remained “a vital pillar of regional and global stability.”
Russia currently supplies nearly 37% of India’s oil imports, and the two countries have set a target of boosting bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030. The SCO optics, coupled with Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping just days earlier, highlight India’s pursuit of a multi-alignment strategy, complicating US efforts to maintain unity within the Quad grouping of the US, India, Japan and Australia.
Observers note that the triangular display of unity in Tianjin strengthens Russia’s position as a pivotal player, bolsters Beijing’s standing, and signals a recalibration in New Delhi’s foreign policy. For Washington, the challenge now is to rebuild trust with India and prevent a drift that could weaken its Indo-Pacific strategy.