Credits – (AP Photo)

A photograph from Tianjin showed a major change in world politics. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and China’s President Xi Jinping were seen standing together in a friendly way. This picture, from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in September 2025, was more than just a photo. It was a statement showing India’s practical shift toward its two large neighbors. This change has happened faster because of India’s strained relationship with the United States, and it signals a new, more complicated time in international affairs.

For many years, Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy involved balancing relationships. He improved the partnership with the United States and the Quad group while also keeping important connections with non-Western groups like BRICS and the SCO. However, economic problems with a potential second Trump government, including high taxes of up to 50% on Indian products as a reaction to India buying Russian oil, have pushed New Delhi to work more closely with Beijing and Moscow.

India and China: A Delicate Improvement in Relations

The most noticeable change has been the improvement in India-China relations. A few years after serious border clashes made the relationship very tense, things are now getting better. An important agreement in late 2024 led to troops moving back from tense areas like Depsang and Demchok, and talks have started again. High-level meetings between officials and military leaders are happening regularly now.

At the Tianjin meeting, both Modi and Xi made it clear that their countries are partners in growth, not competitors. They also said their disagreements should not turn into bigger conflicts. This new cooperation is based on their shared goal of keeping world trade stable, especially with economic pressure from the United States. They have also talked about starting direct flights again, making it easier to get visas, and finding a solution to the ongoing border issue that both sides can accept.

However, this improved relationship, which some have called the “Dragon-Elephant Tango,” is still very delicate. There is still a major lack of trust between the two countries. India is concerned about China’s large construction projects on the Brahmaputra River, its close friendship with Pakistan, and the large trade imbalance, with India buying nearly $99 billion more from China than it sells to it in 2024-25. While they are cooperating for now, the competition for influence in Asia still exists in the background.

India and Russia: A Strong Friendship Continues

Unlike the careful steps taken with China, India’s relationship with Russia has been very warm and has grown stronger. In Tianjin, Modi called the partnership with Moscow “special,” and Putin called Modi his “dear friend.” Their good relationship was clear, especially during a well-known hour-long private talk inside Putin’s secure limousine, showing their close and trusted connection.

This partnership is based on two main things: energy and defense. With Western countries putting limits on Russia, India has become a top buyer of Russian oil at a lower price. Russia now supplies more than one-third of India’s imported oil. India has defended these purchases, saying they are necessary for the energy needs of its 1.4 billion people, a position that has caused friction with the United States.

At the same time, the long-standing defense relationship continues to grow. Russia is still India’s biggest supplier of military equipment. There are reports of discussions about working together to build advanced fighter jets, like the Su-57, in India. This strong reliance on Russia for defense gives India a good reason to protect this partnership from outside pressure.

Global Effects: India’s Independent Foreign Policy

By strengthening these relationships, India is strongly stating its long-term goal of having an independent foreign policy, also known as strategic autonomy. By not giving in to U.S. pressure and building other relationships through groups like the SCO and BRICS (which India will host in 2026), New Delhi is showing it won’t just be a follower of any single power. This is making Western countries reconsider their views, as the friendly image of Modi, Xi, and Putin together has caused concern and started discussions about a “new world order.”

Some experts call this a “Reverse Nixon” moment, where pressure from the U.S. has unintentionally pushed these countries closer together, with India at the center. This growing understanding between the three nations, even if it’s not a formal alliance, presents a real challenge to the U.S.-led strategy in the Indo-Pacific region.

India faces a difficult road ahead. It needs to handle its relationship with a rival like China while also working on security with the Quad. It must also manage its defense ties with Russia without completely pushing away the West, which is a key source of technology and money. But the message from Tianjin is clear: under Prime Minister Modi, India is not just balancing between big powers. It is now actively influencing the global balance of power, creating a foreign policy for a world with multiple centers of power, where its own interests come first.