The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Sept 1, 2025, became a stage for China, Russia, and India to project an image of solidarity in the face of mounting US and Western pressures.

The firmest expression of this unity came in the summit’s declaration, where member states jointly condemned US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran earlier in June as well as the April Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 lives.

Analysts noted that India’s support for such language, unprecedented in its openness against Washington, may reflect New Delhi’s frustration at being targeted with steep 50 per cent tariffs by the US just days before.

This apparent thaw in India’s differences within the SCO follows June’s episode, when New Delhi refused to endorse a joint statement citing its omission of terrorist attacks on Indian soil. The Tianjin declaration’s inclusion of Pahalgam this time was significant recognition for India, with analysts suggesting it helped reassure New Delhi of its concerns being heard. Yet India held back from aligning on China’s flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), underscoring that deep structural divergences remain despite the optics of togetherness.

The summit’s most symbolic moment occurred on the red carpet, where Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were seen chatting and smiling in close huddle before joining the group photo. Mr Modi and Mr Putin were later photographed walking hand-in-hand and even riding together to bilateral talks. These gestures of bonhomie between three major Eurasian powers highlighted their collective interest in signaling unity while Western alliances remain unsettled by shifting US foreign policy.

In his address, President Xi played the role of chief strategist and benefactor, pledging 2 billion yuan in grant aid and 10 billion yuan in low-interest loans for SCO countries, along with expanded scholarships and training opportunities. He called for member nations to cooperate on trade, investment facilitation, and what he referred to as “100 small and beautiful livelihood projects,” further positioning China as guarantor of stability amid global turmoil.

Xi repeatedly criticised the United States for “hegemonism” and “Cold War mentality,” while proposing a new “Global Governance Initiative” to complement his earlier security and development frameworks. This marks Beijing’s latest attempt to brand itself as an alternative to Western-led institutions.

For Russia, President Putin seized the SCO stage to reiterate his long-standing call for a new Eurasian security architecture, framing the grouping as a credible counterweight to NATO and Western alliances. His remarks dovetailed with Xi’s theme of multipolarism and resistance to Western domination, even as Western sanctions continue to isolate Moscow.

India, meanwhile, walked a careful line. Prime Minister Modi used his visit—his first to China in seven years—to highlight growing rapport with Russia and project India as a respected voice within Eurasia, while simultaneously distancing New Delhi from China’s BRI. India’s sensitivities reflect both its desire for greater recognition of its security concerns and its reluctance to be seen as aligning fully with Beijing’s larger strategic designs.

Beyond the optics, skepticism about the SCO’s real traction lingered. Observers such as Professor Cui Hongjian from Beijing Foreign Studies University pointed out that despite Beijing’s numerous pledges, the organisation has historically struggled to turn words into action. The admission of Laos as a dialogue partner and Kyrgyzstan’s upcoming chairmanship were among the few institutional developments confirmed at Tianjin, while member states await implementation of China’s financial and livelihood commitments.

The Tianjin summit also came on the eve of Beijing’s massive Sept 3 military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, foreshadowing a broader display of Chinese strategic confidence. For now, the SCO gathering delivered powerful images of ease between Xi, Putin, and Modi, but it also highlighted lingering fissures, particularly over India’s cautious stance on China’s regional projects. In short, while the summit projected unity against Washington’s shifting order, the true depth of cooperation within this Eurasian bloc remains uncertain.

IDN (With Agency Inputs)