The 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin has underscored a dramatic shift in the global balance of power. Chinese President Xi Jinping, joined by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and leaders from across Eurasia, used the platform to push back against Western dominance, promote multipolarity, and chart a long-term course for the bloc’s future. The meeting concluded with the adoption of the Tianjin Declaration and a comprehensive 2035 development strategy, signaling the SCO’s ambition to transform itself from a regional grouping into a cornerstone of global governance.

Opening the summit, Xi urged member states to reject “hegemonism” and “power politics,” clear references to the United States and its allies. He emphasized that the SCO’s mission should be to defend international law, uphold multilateralism, and ensure equal participation by all states, regardless of their size or military strength. The Chinese leader also unveiled a new global governance initiative, complementing his earlier proposals on global development, security, and civilization. Xi framed this as part of China’s broader vision to create a “fairer and more equitable system of global governance,” one that advances a shared future for humanity rather than perpetuating unilateral dominance.

Xi’s message resonated strongly with the assembled leaders, particularly Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who has long sought to rally support for a multipolar international order. By framing the SCO as an alternative model to Western-dominated structures such as NATO or the G7, Xi signaled Beijing’s intention to use the bloc as a platform to project global influence well beyond Asia.

Putin, who held extensive talks with both Xi and Modi during the summit, echoed the call for multipolarity. The Russian president stressed the need for........

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