The 2025 Tianjin SCO Summit: How India, China, and Russia Forged a Multipolar Future

The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, held in Tianjin, China, from August 31 to September 1, 2025, marked one of the most consequential moments in modern international relations. What began as a regional grouping of Central Asian states has now matured into a global platform representing 42% of the world’s population and 36% of global GDP.

Against a backdrop of escalating US-China trade tensions and Washington’s punitive tariffs on both India and China, the Tianjin Summit showcased a remarkable geopolitical shift. For the first time in decades, India, China, and Russia converged around shared concerns about American economic dominance and unilateral policies.

The summit not only produced tangible agreements but also symbolized a realignment of global power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to China in seven years, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s conciliatory outreach, and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s limousine diplomacy with Modi underscored the seriousness of this shift.

The Tianjin Declaration and the bilateral resets that emerged are being seen by analysts as a watershed moment, signaling the rise of a multipolar axis that challenges Western hegemony.

Background: The Evolution of the SCO

From Shanghai Five to Global Platform

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) began in 2001, evolving from the Shanghai Five (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan). Its guiding philosophy, the “Shanghai Spirit,” emphasizes:

Mutual trust
Mutual benefit
Equality
Respect for cultural diversity
Common development

Over time, the SCO expanded to include Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, turning it into a continental-scale organization with 10 member states, along with observers and dialogue partners.

The Trump Factor and Tariff Shock

The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency in 2025 unleashed new waves of economic nationalism. His administration imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports and 145% tariffs on Chinese products, triggering a crisis for both economies.

The rhetoric from Washington—branding India, China, and Russia as “bad actors”—further alienated these nations. Far from coercing compliance, these actions accelerated cooperation within the SCO, uniting member states under the banner of resisting “geopolitical bullying.”

The Summit Proceedings: Diplomacy in Action

Modi’s Historic Return to China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Tianjin was historic. It was his first visit since the 2018 Wuhan Informal Summit with Xi, and came after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.

Despite years of border tensions, Modi’s presence signaled India’s willingness to engage constructively. Within the SCO framework, India projected itself as:

A responsible global power
A nation committed to strategic autonomy
An engaged stakeholder in multilateral security and economic frameworks

The Modi-Xi Breakthrough

The bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi on August 31, 2025 marked the most significant thaw in India-China ties in years.

Key outcomes included:

Joint declaration: “Partners, not rivals.”
Resumption of direct flights suspended since the pandemic.
Restoration of border trade routes.
New consultation mechanisms for managing the border dispute.

This reset, while fragile, demonstrated that economic necessity could drive diplomatic flexibility.

Putin’s Limousine Diplomacy

One of the most symbolic moments came when Vladimir Putin invited Modi into his armored limousine for a 45-minute private conversation.

Inside the limousine, discussions centered on:

Expanding defense cooperation
Securing energy supplies
Coordinating responses to Western sanctions

Putin’s announcement of a December 2025 visit to India further underscored the India-Russia strategic partnership.

This imagery of Modi and Putin together was widely seen as a message of solidarity and a counterbalance to India’s strained ties with Washington.

Institutional Outcomes: The Tianjin Declaration

The Tianjin Declaration, adopted at the close of the summit, included:

Strong condemnation of the April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Establishment of four new SCO security cooperation centers.
Approval of the SCO Development Strategy 2035, covering trade, infrastructure, and digital connectivity.
China’s announcement of $280 million in grants, plus additional banking consortium funding.

These outcomes demonstrated that the SCO is moving beyond rhetoric toward practical institution-building.

Strategic Implications for Key Players

India: Strategic Recalibration

The summit represented India’s recalibration under economic pressure. Tariffs from the US forced India to look toward:

Russia for energy security and defense cooperation.
China for trade restoration and economic engagement.

By positioning itself within the SCO, India:

Projected itself as a balancer.
Gained a multilateral channel to engage both China and Pakistan.
Strengthened its voice on counter-terrorism issues.

China: Asserting Leadership

Hosting the summit allowed China to:

Showcase itself as a champion of multipolarity.
Provide economic incentives for SCO unity.
Reset ties with India, reducing the likelihood of a US-led coalition against Beijing.

Russia: Reclaiming Relevance

For Russia, Tianjin was about:

Proving it remains a major power despite Western sanctions.
Reinforcing ties with India.
Positioning itself as a bridge between China and India.

Economic and Security Dimensions

Economic Cooperation

The SCO Development Strategy 2035 outlined:

Infrastructure investments
Digital connectivity projects
Trade integration plans

Energy cooperation is a pillar:

SCO controls 20% of global oil reserves and 44% of natural gas.
India-Russia oil trade continues despite sanctions.

Competing visions—China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) vs. India’s International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)—were reframed as complementary, avoiding conflict.

Security Cooperation

The summit strongly condemned terrorism and emphasized:

Accountability for terror sponsors
Strengthened joint training and information sharing
New SCO security centers

Afghanistan remained a concern, with SCO members stressing the need for stability and humanitarian assistance.

International Reactions

United States

The Trump administration dismissed the summit as “performative.” But many analysts argue that Washington’s tariff strategy backfired, pushing India closer to Russia and China.

Europe

The EU response was more nuanced:

Concern about an anti-Western bloc
Criticism of US unilateralism
Recognition of SCO’s emphasis on multilateral cooperation

Challenges and Future Prospects

Sustainability of Cooperation

The personal chemistry between Modi, Xi, and Putin drove the breakthroughs. But for lasting impact, agreements must be institutionalized.

Unresolved Issues

India-China border disputes remain sensitive.
India-Pakistan rivalry continues to complicate SCO cooperation.
Competing connectivity projects could reignite tensions.

Global Partnerships

India’s role in the Quad (with US, Japan, Australia) may face strain as its SCO engagement deepens. Washington worries about a “reverse Nixon” effect—instead of splitting rivals, US policies may have united them.

Conclusion: A Watershed in Global Geopolitics

The 2025 Tianjin SCO Summit will be remembered as a watershed moment.

It signaled a multipolar realignment.
It produced tangible agreements on border trade, terrorism, and economic cooperation.
It showcased the SCO as a credible alternative to Western-led institutions.

Yet, challenges remain. Whether this newfound cooperation proves sustainable will shape the future of the global order.

What is certain is that Tianjin marked the emergence of a new era, where India, China, and Russia demonstrated that economic coercion can create strange alliances, and that the multipolar world is no longer a theory—it is becoming a reality.