Burgeoning Ties Between Russia, India, and China Spotlighted at Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit

Latest Developments

• Xi Calls for Multipolar World at SCO Summit: Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization” as he hosted leaders from more than 20 nations in the northern port city of Tianjin at this year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit. The SCO, founded in 2001 to reshape the world order towards a Chinese-led alternative to Western alliances, promoted the 2025 forum as the largest yet as Xi seeks to position China as a bulwark for regional peace and stability. The leadership of permanent SCO members — Russia, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan — attended the gathering as well as delegations from 16 official partner and observer states from Asia and the Middle East.
• Russia and China ‘United in Vision’: Russian President Vladimir Putin told Chinese media that Russia and China were “united in our vision” of building a multipolar world order. Also, he blamed NATO and the West for starting the war in Ukraine, rather than Russia’s unprovoked 2022 invasion. Putin seeks closer economic and security ties with China to insulate Russia’s economy against the effects of international sanctions. During the summit, he advocated for SCO member states to issue “joint bonds” and supported Xi’s proposal to establish a “bank of joint investment projects.”
• India Warms to China and Russia: Arriving early to hold a meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated his country’s shift towards better relations with Russia and China amid souring ties with the United States. Xi and Modi discussed expanding trade and investment, agreeing that their countries are development partners, not rivals, despite a border dispute and longstanding geopolitical rivalry. India’s relationship with the United States worsened after President Donald Trump imposed 50 percent sanctions on Indian goods for its continued purchase of Russian oil that helped Russia fund its invasion of Ukraine. At the summit, Modi stated, “Even in the most difficult situations, India and Russia have always walked shoulder to shoulder.”

FDD Expert Response

“The SCO matters more for optics than for a global reordering; this year’s summit is a stage for Beijing’s convening power, but choreography isn’t the same as concrete outcomes. Thin deliverables and durable disunity persist — still, Washington should watch for quiet gains in narrative alignment, sanctions resilience, and standards-setting that chip at U.S. leverage.” — Craig Singleton, Senior Fellow

“The SCO meetings are a rogue’s gallery of authoritarians, authoritarian enablers, and a few vassal states. India’s Prime Minister Modi should be very careful where he postures the future of the world’s largest democracy — the SCO is full of thugs and bullies.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“Beijing and Moscow’s shared hostility to the U.S.-led order is on full display. China has provided critical support for Russia’s war machine, while Russia continues to supply advanced military technologies in support of China’s rapid military modernization. Some in Washington mistakenly believe the United States can split the Russia-China axis by cozying up to the Kremlin. But Moscow and Beijing have made clear they have no intention of abandoning their joint revisionist project.” — John Hardie, Russia Program Deputy Director

“With Washington placing pressure on India, leaning against Russia, and circling China, the SCO meeting may showcase how far an Axis of Aggressors can gain traction amongst the global community.” — Jack Burnham, Research Analyst

FDD Background and Analysis

“5 Things to Know About China-Iran Security Cooperation,” by Lydia LaFavor, Jack Burnham, and Natalie Ecanow

“Iran Becomes Full Member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” FDD Flash Brief

“Iran Joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” by Bradley Bowman, Ryan Brobst, and Zane Zovak