At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, leaders had come together to set forth an alternative vision of world order outside of Western-led groupings. Chinese President Xi Jinping denounced what he referred to as the "bullying behaviour" of great powers, while Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of fomenting war in Ukraine.
Putin argued the crisis was not caused by Moscow’s 2022 invasion but by “a coup in Ukraine” allegedly backed by the West, coupled with NATO’s push to draw Kyiv into its fold. His comments came as the war entered its fourth year, leaving tens of thousands dead and much of eastern Ukraine in ruins.
Xi called on SCO members to repudiate "cold war mentality" and bloc confrontation, emphasizing the importance of reinforcing the UN and WTO's position in the global architecture. He characterized the SCO's expansion as the basis for a "new model of true multilateralism" and committed substantial financial assistance: 2 billion yuan ($280m) of gratis aid and 10 billion yuan of loans to an SCO banking consortium.
By emphasizing the SCO's increasing role, Xi framed the group as an equivalent to NATO and Western economic blocs, especially with tensions deepening globally due to US tariffs and evolving trade policies.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence marked his first China visit in seven years, signalling a cautious thaw between New Delhi and Beijing. Despite ongoing disputes over borders and China’s close ties with Pakistan, Xi expressed optimism that China-India relations could become “stable and far-reaching.”
The timing of Modi’s visit was notable, coming days after Washington imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods due to Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. Live footage of Xi, Putin, and Modi chatting together reflected an emerging bloc of leaders seeking to navigate tensions with the West while reinforcing ties among themselves.
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The summit also presaged possible realignments in global relations. Observers are looking closely for the likelihood of a summit meeting between Xi, Putin, and North Korea's Kim Jong-un. The meeting could increase US apprehension about a new cold war dynamic, especially with the reporting on North Korean military aid to Russia in Ukraine.
For the time being, the Tianjin summit highlighted the way the SCO is transforming into a platform for competing narratives of global power, sovereignty, and multilateralism's future.
