By: Carlos Taylhardat | September 1, 2025
In a cavernous convention hall in Tianjin, the choreography said it all. Xi Jinping took the podium and warned of “bullying behaviour” and a “Cold War mentality.” Vladimir Putin nodded, blaming NATO for Ukraine. Narendra Modi smiled, shook both men’s hands, and stressed India’s independence. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, once a sleepy regional forum, suddenly looked like a theatre for something larger: an alternative world order. More than 20 leaders attended, the biggest SCO gathering ever, and the message was simple: the West no longer holds a monopoly on global rules.
SCO
The SCO began in 2001 as a security club. This year in Tianjin, it presented itself as a counterweight to NATO and the G7.
- Xi Jinping: pledged $280 million in aid and $1.4 billion in loans, promised AI and digital cooperation, and declared, “We must oppose Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying behaviour.”
- Vladimir Putin: reiterated, “There can be no sustainable peace in Ukraine without addressing NATO enlargement.”
- Narendra Modi: struck a careful balance, saying, “We are committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities.”
For Beijing, it was a chance to prove leadership. For Moscow, a reminder it is not alone. For New Delhi, a demonstration of independence.
Beijing’s Pitch — True Multilateralism
“We must uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core… oppose Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation, and bullying behaviour.”, Xi Jinping. Xi’s words were sharp but polished: the world needs “true multilateralism” that resists blocs and sanctions. He offered money, loans, and digital cooperation to prove it. State media framed the summit as proof that China is not just a participant but the convener of a multipolar world. Even Western analysts admitted the optics matter: a stage crowded with presidents and prime ministers leaning in as Xi spoke.
Moscow’s Line — NATO at the Heart of Peace
“NATO enlargement must be addressed for a sustainable peace in Ukraine.”, Vladimir Putin. For Putin, Tianjin was a stage to tell his story: NATO’s expansion caused the war in Ukraine. Peace, he insisted, requires rolling back Western pressure. His presence beside Xi and Modi projected normalcy, even strength. Russia may be under sanctions, but the photo-ops and shared car rides, handshakes, and smiles illustrated a different story: Moscow is not isolated.
India’s Balancing Act — Autonomy, Always
“We are committed to progressing our relations based on mutual respect, trust and sensitivities” with China, and he reiterated, “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses both trust and meaning.”Modi walked a tightrope. He met Xi despite border disputes, kept close with Putin despite Western criticism, and positioned India as both a BRICS insider and a U.S. partner. With American tariffs stinging Indian exports, Modi’s warmth in Tianjin gave him leverage. Yet he avoided China’s most radical rhetoric, reminding the hall that India’s autonomy is non-negotiable.
India is the bloc’s swing state. Modi collaborates with SCO while deepening defence ties with the U.S. and France. His message of “connectivity must respect sovereignty” was a veiled jab at China’s Belt and Road, but also reassurance to Western partners.
For Washington and Brussels, this means India cannot be counted on to fully align with the West. On tariffs, tech supply chains, and climate negotiations, New Delhi now plays both sides, extracting concessions from each.
The Silent Story — What Changes If the SCO Grows Teeth?
Behind the speeches were subtler ripples. Freight forwarders wonder if SCO financing could shift shipping costs. Bankers are watching experiments in non-dollar trade. Central banks are buying gold as a hedge. None of this replaces the dollar tomorrow — but a parallel system is forming.
For everyday people, the question is practical: will the cost of goods, energy, or imports change if more trade is settled in yuan or rupees? Slowly, then suddenly, it could.
- Currencies: SCO nations are experimenting with yuan- and rupee-based trade. For the West, this means the U.S. dollar’s dominance is under quiet but persistent erosion.
- Shipping & Energy: Russia is pivoting oil sales eastward; China is underwriting pipelines into Central Asia. Europe becomes more vulnerable to energy shocks.
- Narratives: Western talk of a “rules-based order” meets a rival story: one where rules are written in Tianjin, not Brussels. For African and Latin American leaders, that story is tempting.
What Washington and Europe Are Saying
Western analysts dismissed parts of the summit as theater but acknowledged its symbolism. The Washington Post warned the SCO was “using Trump’s turmoil” to appeal to the Global South. European think tanks noted contradictions — India’s rivalry with China, Russia’s pariah status — but also admitted that images of unity matter. Symbolism can precede substance.
Key Takeaways
- Xi pitched “true multilateralism,” aid, and AI partnerships as alternatives to Western order.
- Putin insisted NATO expansion is the root of the Ukraine war.
- Modi balanced ties with both sides while protecting India’s independence.
- The SCO’s real impact may be slow: shifting trade, financing, and currencies at the margins.
- Western voices see contradictions — but also a clear signal that the world is no longer single-centered.
Questions This Article Answers
- What was the purpose of the Tianjin summit?
- What did Xi, Putin, and Modi actually say?
- How did Washington and Europe react?
- Could this change global trade and finance?
- What does it mean for ordinary people’s costs and markets?
Attending Leaders at the 2025 SCO Summit (Tianjin)
Heads of State or Government from SCO Member Countries
- China – Xi Jinping (President of the People’s Republic / CCP General Secretary) (host)
- India – Narendra Modi (Prime Minister)
- Russia – Vladimir Putin (President)
- Iran – Masoud Pezeshkian (President)
- Kazakhstan – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (President)
- Kyrgyzstan – Sadyr Japarov (President)
- Tajikistan – Emomali Rahmon (President)
- Uzbekistan – Shavkat Mirziyoyev (President)
- Pakistan – Shehbaz Sharif (Prime Minister)
- Belarus – Alexander Lukashenko (President)
- Armenia – Nikol Pashinyan (Prime Minister)
- Azerbaijan – Ilham Aliyev (President)
- Cambodia – Hun Manet (Prime Minister)
- Maldives – Mohamed Muizzu (President)
- Myanmar (acting government) – Min Aung Hlaing (Acting President)
- Vietnam – Phạm Minh Chính (Prime Minister)
- Laos – Thongloun Sisoulith (President / General Secretary)
- Mongolia – Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh (President)
- Nepal – K.P. Sharma Oli (Prime Minister)
