The upcoming SCO Summit in Tianjin is set to be a theater of high-stakes diplomacy, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to hold crucial bilateral meetings with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. These discussions will take place against a backdrop of Putin’s sharp criticism of Western sanctions.
Putin has set a confrontational tone for the summit, denouncing US and EU sanctions as “discriminatory” and highlighting Russia’s “unprecedented” alliance with China. His statements emphasize a push for a “fairer, multipolar world order,” an agenda that will likely feature prominently in his conversation with Modi.
The meeting between Modi and Putin is particularly significant, as India continues to navigate its relationship with Russia amidst Western pressure. They are expected to discuss defense cooperation, energy security, and the future of multilateral institutions like BRICS and the SCO.
Simultaneously, the Modi-Xi meeting will be closely watched for any progress on bilateral issues. As these three major powers of Eurasia convene, their discussions could have far-reaching implications for regional security, economic integration, and the evolving global balance of power.