Putin, Modi and other world leaders in China for summit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a significant meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin, China, on September 1, 2025, showcasing their deepening bilateral ties amid international pressures. The leaders met after attending the SCO plenary session, with Putin warmly greeting Modi as a ‘dear friend’ and praising the long-standing, trust-based relationship between their countries. Modi echoed this, terming the partnership ‘special and privileged,’ and both emphasized the non-partisan nature of their ties, supported by their peoples. This meeting gains urgency from recent US actions, where President Trump imposed additional 25% tariffs on Indian imports, totaling 50%, in retaliation for India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. Washington argues that these imports help sustain Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine, but India maintains they are crucial for its energy security and economic growth. Trade between India and Russia has soared, with imports reaching approximately $64 billion and exports around $5 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. Russia now accounts for about 37% of India’s oil imports, a strategic shift from earlier dependencies on the Middle East. The nations aspire to increase trade to $100 billion by 2030. Modi used the opportunity to discuss the Ukraine conflict, welcoming peace initiatives and calling for constructive dialogue to achieve a permanent ceasefire. He highlighted the global desire for an end to the hostilities and suffering. Prior to the formal meeting, the two leaders engaged in a nearly hour-long private conversation in Putin’s Aurus limousine, reflecting their close personal rapport. This informal exchange likely covered broader strategic issues beyond the public agenda. The SCO summit, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, brought together leaders from over two dozen countries, focusing on regional stability and countering Western influence. Modi’s participation and his meeting with Putin underscore India’s balancing act between its historical alliance with Russia and its growing engagements with the West. Overall, this event signals the complex interplay of global diplomacy, where economic interests and geopolitical strategies intersect, shaping a multipolar world order.