SCO Summit: India Navigates Complex Geopolitical Waters with China and Russia

The SCO summit in Tianjin will feature prominently as a platform for discussions between India’s Prime Minister Modi, China’s President Xi Jinping, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. The summit gains importance considering the complexities in US-India relations, exacerbated by Trump’s trade policies. Modi’s previous visit to China was seven years prior to the current summit. India and China are working on improving their relationship amidst global instability triggered by Trump’s trade strategies. Modi will have separate meetings with Xi and Putin during the summit. Modi’s presence alongside Xi and Putin at the summit is expected to be a signal to Trump, particularly after US officials’ criticism of India. Discussions between Modi and Xi are crucial. The two leaders began talks in Kazan last October, with agreements to withdraw troops from disputed areas along the LAC. The relationship between the two countries had deteriorated after the Galwan conflict. US policies of pitting India against China have been reversed. Xi has called for a ‘dragon-elephant tango’ for a more stable relationship. During Wang Yi’s visit to Delhi, he encouraged both countries to be seen as ‘partners.’ Agreements were made to resume direct flights, facilitate visas, and reopen border trading points. Both sides will work to ensure border issues do not impact other bilateral matters. Stable relations with China could buffer the impact of US tariffs, as India aims to lessen its dependence on the US market.