Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Tianjin, China, for the 25th Heads of State Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is drawing international attention for reasons that go well beyond routine summitry. Scheduled for August 30, Modi’s trip will include bilateral talks with both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin – a diplomatic convergence that underscores the shifting dynamics of global alliances at a time when New Delhi’s relations with Washington are under considerable strain.

The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, has evolved into one of the most influential regional security blocs in Eurasia. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2023, with Iran and Belarus following soon after, bringing the membership to ten. While the group focuses officially on counterterrorism, regional security, and economic cooperation, its broader significance lies in serving as a counterweight to Western-led institutions.

Modi’s announcement on August 28, via a post on X, emphasized India’s “active and constructive role” in the SCO. He reiterated New Delhi’s commitment to working with other members on “shared challenges.” Yet it is the bilateral engagements with Xi and Putin that stand out, as they point toward India’s careful maneuvering in the multipolar order.

Modi’s China visit is taking place against the backdrop of deepening trade frictions with the United........

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