The recent photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin has sparked significant attention and debate in the Western and US media, with many interpreting it as a symbol of a shifting global power dynamic and the emergence of a new world order dominated by Asia.

US political commentator Van Jones highlighted on CNN that this image should "send a chill down the spine of every American," emphasising the geopolitical implications of the three major Asian powers, alongside leaders of Iran and North Korea, forming a kind of alliance or multipolar world order that challenges Western dominance.

He described the scene as representing the West being boxed in and surrounded by an "axis of upheaval," which he said is "not good for America".

The image showed a rare display of camaraderie, with Modi laughing and holding Putin’s hand, while Xi maintained a measured smile. The warmth and bonhomie among the three leaders were noted as significant because it signalled India’s strategic independence and a willingness to engage with China and Russia despite unresolved issues like border disputes and US tariffs.

Modi’s participation and close engagement with Xi and Putin were seen as indicative of India's distancing from its traditional reliance on the US, particularly after the Trump administration’s steep tariffs on Indian goods and strained diplomatic ties.

Western media like The New York Times highlighted the image's multiple messages: the strong bond between Xi and Putin as leaders of an alternative global order, and Modi’s effort to demonstrate India’s ability to cultivate important friends other than the US. This gathering underscores a broader geopolitical shift, where the SCO, initially a regional Central Asian forum, is becoming a platform symbolizing growing Asian influence and challenging US global leadership.

At the summit, Xi Jinping condemned "bullying behaviour," which was widely interpreted as a critique of US policies, while promoting a vision of a global order with multiple power centres and more balanced governance, rejecting Cold War-era rivalries and coercion. The SCO summit coincided with a Beijing parade commemorating Japan’s surrender in World War II, where Xi, Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stood together, further underscoring the anti-Western sentiment and the display of a new bloc against old Western dominance.

US political and policy figures expressed dismay and criticism. Some US officials dismissed the SCO and the image as performative or criticized Modi’s closeness to the other two leaders. For example, White House trade adviser Peter Navarro called India’s posture "a shame," while Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled the summit largely symbolic. The reactions reflected concerns about the negative impact of Trump’s tariff policies on the US-India relationship, which may have pushed India closer to China and Russia.

The photograph of Modi, Putin, and Xi smiling and interacting warmly during the SCO summit symbolises a growing alignment of major Asian powers challenging US global dominance. It reflects the emergence of a multipolar world order, geopolitical realignments driven by trade tensions and diplomacy, and significant concern in US policy circles about America’s place in this new global landscape.

Based On NDTV Report