Modi Meets Putin and Xi at SCO, Sends Signal After U.S. Tariffs Take Effect

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held warm, public interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, a series of meetings that came days after Washington’s new tariffs on Indian imports took effect.

Modi was photographed in friendly exchanges with both leaders, including holding hands in one image, and later posted on X that "conversations with him are always insightful," referring to Putin. The visit was Modi’s first trip to China in seven years and included a separate bilateral meeting with Putin after the summit. He also rode in Putin’s presidential limousine during the visit.

Xi hosted leaders of the SCO, a Eurasian political, economic and security forum that includes Russia, China, India and several Central Asian states. China has in recent years sought to bolster the group’s profile as a platform for regional cooperation. The summit in Tianjin brought those leaders together against a backdrop of growing geopolitical competition involving the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week imposed heavy tariffs on a range of Indian goods, measures that Indian officials and some diplomats warned would strain bilateral economic ties. Modi’s engagements with Putin and Xi occurred after those tariffs took effect and were widely interpreted by observers as part of India’s broader diplomatic balancing among major powers.

In remarks on social media, Modi emphasized India’s relationship with China in conciliatory terms, saying India sees itself as a "partner" of China rather than a "rival." The public displays of cordiality with both Moscow and Beijing followed a recent pattern of high-profile meetings among major global leaders at multilateral forums.

The SCO summit agenda traditionally spans security cooperation, trade and connectivity, and regional stability. Leaders in Tianjin discussed issues ranging from counterterrorism to economic collaboration. Details of the leaders’ bilateral talks were limited in official releases, which described the meetings as constructive and focused on strengthening ties.

India’s foreign policy has for years emphasized strategic autonomy — maintaining relations with multiple major powers while avoiding exclusive alignments. Officials in New Delhi have framed the outreach as part of routine diplomacy to advance national interests, including trade, energy and security cooperation.

Observers note that interactions among Xi, Putin and Modi carry implications for wider geopolitical dynamics, particularly as the United States deepens ties with partners in Asia. Still, Indian officials have reiterated the country’s intention to pursue independent policy choices and to engage multilaterally.

Modi’s Tianjin visit and his separate exchanges with Putin and Xi add to a series of high-level encounters among global leaders this year. The immediate effects on diplomatic lines with Washington remained to be seen, with officials in New Delhi continuing to manage multiple bilateral relationships while addressing domestic economic priorities and regional security concerns.