Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appearance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2025 in Tianjin wasn’t just another diplomatic move. It was a stage where India flexed its independent foreign policy by hugging Russia, calling out terrorism, and pushing back at China all while keeping Pakistan uncomfortably in the frame.

The SCO Stage: Asia’s Power Club

The SCO isn’t just alphabet soup. It’s a bloc that brings together China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Central Asian nations. Originally built around security cooperation, it’s now morphing into a platform where global power equations play out. With the West increasingly fractured from Russia and wary of China, this year’s summit in Tianjin became more than just a ceremonial gathering.

The Hug That Shook Washington

The headline moment? Modi’s warm hug with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This wasn’t accidental body language, it was a deliberate signal. Despite U.S. sanctions and Western disapproval of Moscow, India isn’t cutting ties with Russia. The hug symbolized continuity in India-Russia relations, especially in defense and energy. As Modi and Putin walked together towards Chinese President Xi Jinping, the optics were clear: India will engage with both Russia and China, but on its own terms.

Modi’s 3-Point Formula: Security, Connectivity, Opportunity

In his address, Modi outlined three priorities for the SCO:

  • Security First: Modi openly condemned terrorism and the “double standards” surrounding it. Without naming Pakistan, he referenced the recent Pahalgam terror attack and declared terrorism an attack on humanity. For India, this was a direct swipe at Islamabad’s history of sheltering extremist groups.
  • Connectivity With Conditions: Modi warned against connectivity projects that ignore national sovereignty. This was a veiled criticism of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which runs through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. His line “Connectivity that bypasses sovereignty loses trust and meaning” was a pointed reminder that India won’t endorse Beijing’s projects that undermine territorial integrity.
  • Opportunity for All: Modi pitched SCO as a platform for economic collaboration in trade, technology, and energy. But he also made it clear: development must come without compromising sovereignty or security.

The Silent Face-Off With Pakistan

For the first time in years, Modi and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shared the same stage. There were no handshakes, no bilateral talks, no casual interactions. Instead, Modi’s anti-terror remarks acted as a direct spotlight on Pakistan, making the absence of dialogue even louder.

China’s Showcase, India’s Pushback

As host, Xi Jinping used the summit to project China as the leader of a multipolar world. Military parades, photo-ops, and speeches all emphasized Beijing’s ambition to present the SCO as an alternative to Western-led institutions. But Modi’s sovereignty comments were a clear pushback. India showed it will cooperate but not play junior partner in China’s vision.

Why It Matters for India

  • The hug with Putin reinforced India’s balancing act between East and West.

  • The sovereignty jab reminded China that India won’t back the BRI.

  • The terror speech embarrassed Pakistan on a global stage.

Modi’s SCO appearance was less about symbolism and more about India asserting its independent position in a polarized world.

India’s Balancing Act: Playing East, West, and Independent

At Tianjin, Modi didn’t just attend a summit. He delivered a layered message: India will talk security, embrace opportunity, and engage in connectivity but only when sovereignty and integrity are respected. Whether it was  Russia, China, or Pakistan, the summit made one thing clear: India is here to set its own rules, not play by someone else’s script.