Three major world powers – China, Russia and India – all with various frictions with the United States, projected an image of solidarity on Monday before the international media during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin.
During his first visit to China in seven years, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the hands of his counterparts – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping – and pulled them closer.
As the three leaders mingled, one interpreter translated Putin’s words, which began with “We three friends …”, before a broadcast signal provided by the summit press centre drowned out the rest of the translation.
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Modi laughed several times during the conversation and clasped Putin’s hands a second time. Earlier, Modi and Putin embraced on the red carpet exchanging greetings before walking hand in hand towards a smiling Xi, who was waiting to greet them.
India’s relations with the US have deteriorated badly following repeated claims by US President Donald Trump during the India-Pakistan conflict that he had brokered a ceasefire between the two countries.
Last week, Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, described India as “a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin”, further upsetting Modi. The moves have been seen as Trump’s “humiliation” of Modi, with whom he had previously enjoyed close ties.
India, which has been slapped with 50 per cent tariffs on goods exported to the US, is trying to mend ties with neighbouring China after a simmering border dispute turned deadly in 2020. Relations started to thaw at a summit in Kazan, Russia, last October and a partial patrol agreement was put in place with both sides pledging to maintain a “peaceful” border.
China, which has accused Washington of multi-front containment, including an ongoing trade war, is a close partner of Russia, which remains under heavy US sanctions for the war in Ukraine. The steep tariffs on India imposed by the Trump administration have prompted worries in Washington that they will push India closer to China.
After their group photograph, Modi approached Putin and Xi once more. The three continued their conversation before proceeding into the summit venue.
“Always a delight to meet President Putin!” Modi wrote in one post.
“Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit,” he wrote in another post, which included photos of him in talks with the other two leaders.
In his speech at the summit, Putin specifically mentioned China and India, stating that Russia valued the efforts and proposals of the two countries and other strategic partners aimed at helping to settle the Ukraine waar. Neither the Indian nor Chinese leaders have condemned Russia for its attacks on Ukraine.
Modi and Putin continued to speak one-on-one after the summit concluded on Monday morning, with further updates also promptly shared on Modi’s social media account. Modi also posted a photo of himself and Putin in the Russian leader’s armoured limousine travelling to a venue for their bilateral meeting. On Sunday evening, Xi and Putin shared similar moments before a gala dinner.
