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India is reorienting its strategy, standing resilient against U.S influences and at the same time strengthening ties with China and Russia through the SCO framework. The summit in Tianjin, China demonstrates a shift towards multipolar diplomacy and collective Southern solidarity in the face of Western coercion. Let us explore the dynamics of the nations in the current scenario.
India-Russia-China dynamics with the U.S
In February 2025, U.S and Russia held extensive talks in meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia focusing on ending the war in Ukraine. However, in response to U.S missile deployment in Europe, Russia issued a chilling warning to the West and said that it sees no limits on deploying nuclear missiles. Overall, there is a Cold-War style posturing between Russia and U.S.
PM Modi visited Washington in February 2025 leading to several key outcomes including defense cooperation, technological alliances, and a bilateral trade boost to $500 bn by 2030. But by August 2025, the U.S doubled tariffs on Indian exports up to 50%, citing India’s continued purchase of oil from Russia as a rationale. This led to a historical low in Indian rupee, market volatility and job risks among exporters, and Indian government’s efforts to shield domestic industries and expanding trade across borders. Overall, U.S-India relations remain robust on defense fronts but encumbered by trade friction over energy policy.
US imposed large tariffs on Chinese goods since 2025 began, leading China to retaliate in kind. Both nations U.S and China raised reciprocal tariffs at one point up to 145% before scaling back with a 90-day de-escalation agreement (May 2025) to 30% for U.S goods and 10% for Chinese goods. U.S has confronted China’s military posture around Taiwan and meanwhile, China accelerated its push for domestic tech self-reliance in AI and semi-conductor sectors. Overall, U.S-China relations are strained marked by severe trade conflicts, military tensions and technological competition.
India-China-Russia dynamics at SCO
India continues to collaborate with Russia both diplomatically and economically amid U.S imposition of tariffs. The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is taking place in Tianjin, China from August 31st to Sept 1st 2025. India is leveraging this Summit as an opportunity to elevate the strategic ties with China and Russia to balance interests without giving attention to American bullying behavior. The diplomatic interaction between India, China and Russia focuses on restoring economic ties, border stability with China and enhancing trade and defense relations with Russia.
China used the Summit to call out bullying behavior and push for a multipolar world. China pushes to include economic development through initiatives like the proposed SCO Development Bank and $1.4 bn in loans to member states over the next three years.
PM Modi marked his 1st visit to China in more than seven years holding productive talks with Xi and Putin. Tensons eased as Modi and Xi called India and China as partners, not rivals seeking peaceful border resolution, flight connectivity and people to people ties.
US tariffs & Diplomatic Fallout
The U.S President Trump has imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, which now accounts for over 35% of its supply. Despite intense pressure to stop, India has refused and labelling tariffs “unjustified and unreasonable” especially considering U.S energy demand and historical imports of Russian commodities.
The U.S tariffs are already impacting Indian exporters and could reorient trade flows and competition in global markets. Hence India is pushing back through diplomatic channels and alternative strategic partnerships and alliances.
U.S approach has inflicted damage to its own businesses at home and drawn criticism, getting a potential blowback from aggressive protectionist policies of Trump.
Strategic Realignment
As western pressure peaks, India is looking ahead to act on its own strategic and national interests, elevating ties with major Eurasian powers instead of aligning with U.S expectations. This sets the stage where global power centers are increasingly ignoring unilateral U.S policies and moving in the direction of multipolarity and cooperative regional blocs.
The White House is even pushing European allies to adopt similar punitive measures against India’s oil and gas trade, but most European nations have not welcomed the U.S stance openly. This lack of Western consensus highlights diverging interests among the Global North in imposing sanctions on India’s energy imports.
Final Thoughts
The current situation is determined by heightened geopolitical conflicts, with India resisting U.S bullying, Russia and China consolidating ties and Western unity fraying over sanctions and tariffs.
These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.