Modi’s Embrace Of Putin, Xi Underscores India’s Balancing Act With Trump’s America
TIANJIN — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit underscored shifting global alignments, as Washington’s hardening stance nudges India closer to Moscow and Beijing.
Modi and Putin arrived together in the same car for their bilateral talks, a gesture that drew attention both for its symbolism and timing. “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful,” Modi posted on X. Their warm handshake and embrace, later circulated online by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the “Video of the Day,” highlighted the depth of the relationship.
Photos and video clips of Modi’s informal interaction with Putin and Xi also went viral, evoking memories of a similar moment captured at the BRICS summit in Kazan earlier this year. The three leaders were seen smiling and conversing easily, a striking contrast to the strained dynamics New Delhi has faced with Washington in recent months.
For Moscow, the optics reflect President Putin’s effort to draw India closer at a time when Western sanctions have deepened Russia’s dependence on Asian markets. For Beijing, Xi’s outreach marks a bid to slowly wean India away from U.S.-backed groupings like the Quad, even as border tensions remain unresolved.
In their one-on-one meeting, Modi and Xi struck a pragmatic tone. Modi stressed the need to “stabilize the global economic order” and invited Xi to attend the BRICS summit India will host in 2026. Both leaders discussed expanding people-to-people ties, including direct flights, visa facilitation, and the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. Modi noted that ties had “moved in a meaningful direction,” pointing to a calmer Line of Actual Control following disengagement agreements. Xi, according to Chinese state media, expressed hope that the talks would “further elevate” relations and promote “sustained, healthy and stable development.”
The outreach underscores India’s balancing act. With the U.S. escalating tariff pressure and continuing to press New Delhi on its ties with Moscow, India is hedging by engaging both Russia and China. For Modi, the Tianjin summit showcased India’s strategic pragmatism: keeping lines open with Washington while reaffirming its role in alternative power blocs led by Moscow and Beijing. (with IANS inputs)
