Xi Welcomes Putin, Modi at SCO Summit As Trump Roils Alliances/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Chinese President Xi Jinping is hosting global leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin. The meeting aims to present China as a counterweight to Western influence, especially as Donald Trump reshapes U.S. foreign policy. Delegations from Asia, the Middle East, and beyond underscore Beijing’s ambitions for global leadership.
SCO Summit & Xi’s Global Diplomacy Quick Looks
- Xi hosts major leaders including Putin, Modi, and Iran’s president.
- China presents the SCO as an alternative to Western institutions.
- Summit follows Trump’s global realignment and ongoing U.S. trade war.
- Russia touts alliance with China amid Ukraine invasion fallout.
- SCO includes 9 members, 16 observer and partner countries.
- SCO members oversee 40% of global population and vast energy reserves.
- Xi’s hosting signals China’s intent to lead Eurasian diplomacy.
- China prepares a symbolic military parade following the summit.
Deep Look
China’s Xi Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Putin and Modi at SCO Summit Amid Trump-Era Global Disruptions
TIANJIN, China — In a display of geopolitical strength and diplomatic theater, Chinese President Xi Jinping is welcoming a powerful cast of global leaders — including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi — to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.
This high-profile gathering marks a crucial moment for China, aiming to solidify its role as a central figure in reshaping the global order, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to rattle long-standing alliances and pursue an “America First” foreign policy.
The summit is being described by Chinese officials as the largest in the SCO’s history, bringing together heads of state from across Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe — a stark contrast to the fracturing seen among Western nations in recent years.
“Beijing wants to signal that China is the indispensable convener in Eurasia,” said Rabia Akhtar, director of Pakistan’s Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research. “It is not just a participant — it is a primary architect.”
A Power Bloc to Challenge the West
Founded in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization originally focused on regional security between China, Russia, and Central Asian nations. But it has since expanded into a broad alliance of geopolitical weight, with members that include India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, and observer or partner nations such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, and the UAE.
Together, SCO members:
- Represent over 40% of the global population
- Govern nations rich in natural energy resources
- Share a desire for a “multipolar world” that limits U.S. influence
Putin, who recently met with Trump in Alaska, praised his country’s partnership with China as a “stabilizing force.” He called for a “just, multipolar world order,” which echoes the joint strategy of Russia and China to reshape the existing U.S.-led global hierarchy.
The summit, staged in Tianjin — a port city symbolically tied to China’s colonial past — sets a powerful backdrop for China’s reemergence as a diplomatic and military power.
Modi’s Attendance Signals a Shift
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence adds significant political weight to the gathering. Modi skipped last year’s SCO summit in Kazakhstan amid strained China-India relations. But this year, he arrives as India’s ties with Washington cool and as Beijing and New Delhi cautiously move toward diplomatic thawing.
This recalibration may complicate U.S. efforts to position India as a strategic counterbalance to China in the Indo-Pacific — a key pillar of American foreign policy in recent years.
China’s Grand Stage Amid Trump-Led Upheaval
The summit coincides with mounting global unease over President Trump’s foreign policy realignments, especially his trade wars and unconventional diplomacy. While Western alliances experience uncertainty, China is positioning the SCO as a forum for global dialogue that transcends ideological divisions.
Adding to the symbolic weight of the event, several leaders — including Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — will stay for an upcoming military parade in Beijing, commemorating the end of World War II.
The parade will feature modern Chinese military advancements and highlight China’s role in defeating Imperial Japan — a theme intended to underscore Beijing’s historic legitimacy and military evolution.
Unity Despite Differences?
Despite vast differences in governance, culture, and regional interests, the SCO continues to function — at least in optics — as a unified group against Western dominance. However, analysts caution that its internal divisions remain significant.
“Without addressing internal conflicts and its mission, the SCO is just a showcase,” said Shen Dingli, a foreign affairs analyst based in Shanghai.
SCO summits have avoided directly addressing contentious topics like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine or India-Pakistan clashes, and have yet to offer substantial resolutions to member disputes. However, the group has taken public stances, such as condemning U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
SCO’s Expanding Reach
In recent years, the SCO has ramped up:
- Joint military drills and anti-terrorism exercises
- Energy cooperation, including pipeline negotiations
- Trade and investment discussions, especially as Western sanctions hit Russia and Iran
Yet practical outcomes remain elusive. Observers are watching this summit closely for signs of whether economic integration will finally accelerate or if the meeting will again serve more as a political signal than a policy engine.
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