The upcoming SCO summit in China is set to capture global attention as President Xi Jinping prepares to welcome more than 20 world leaders in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. With Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the key attendees, the event signals a major display of Global South solidarity and a direct challenge to U.S. influence.
A Gathering of Global South Leaders
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit will be the largest since the bloc’s founding in 2001. Leaders from Central Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia are expected to attend. The meeting will provide Russia, currently under heavy Western sanctions, with another chance to strengthen its diplomatic position.
China is presenting the summit as a platform for new international cooperation. According to a Chinese foreign ministry official, the SCO has become an “important force in building a new type of international relations.” The summit highlights Beijing’s vision of a multipolar world order less reliant on U.S. leadership.
Modi’s Return to China After Seven Years
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation marks his first visit to China in more than seven years. His presence underscores efforts by India and China to manage tensions following the deadly 2020 border clashes. While relations remain fragile, both governments have shown renewed interest in dialogue.
Modi last stood alongside Xi and Putin at the BRICS summit in Russia in 2024. At that time, Western leaders avoided Putin due to the war in Ukraine. With Washington’s policies putting new trade pressure on India, analysts believe Modi now sees value in engaging with China to ease frictions and diversify India’s diplomatic options.
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Putin’s Extended Stay in China
President Vladimir Putin’s visit goes beyond the summit. He will remain in China to attend a World War Two military parade in Beijing, marking one of his longest stays abroad since the Ukraine war began. The extended visit demonstrates Russia’s growing reliance on Beijing as a political and economic partner.
For Moscow, the summit offers a chance to show that despite isolation from the West, it still commands influence in Asia and the Global South. Russian diplomats in New Delhi have hinted at the possibility of trilateral talks between Russia, China, and India.
China’s Strategic Messaging
Experts argue that Beijing views the SCO as a stage to highlight alternatives to Western-led institutions. Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, said Xi aims to show what “a post-American-led international order begins to look like.” He noted that U.S. efforts to counter China, Russia, Iran, and even India have not produced the intended results.
Olander added that forums like the SCO and BRICS are designed to unsettle Washington. “Just look at how much BRICS has rattled Donald Trump. That is precisely what these groups are meant to do,” he explained.
Expansion and Limitations
The SCO has grown steadily since its establishment as a Eurasian security group. It now has 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue and observer states. Its scope has expanded from counter-terrorism to economic and military cooperation.
However, analysts caution that the group’s practical achievements remain limited. Manoj Kewalramani, chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Research Programme at India’s Takshashila Institution, said the SCO’s vision remains “fuzzy” and lacks effective implementation. He described it as a platform with strong convening power but weak problem-solving capacity.
Persistent Frictions
Internal disagreements still challenge the bloc. Relations between India and Pakistan often disrupt consensus. At the June SCO defence ministers’ meeting, members failed to adopt a joint statement after India objected to omissions about an April terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
India also declined to support an SCO statement condemning Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in June. These frictions highlight the difficulty of maintaining unity among diverse members with conflicting interests.
Xi and Modi’s Expected Talks
Despite disputes, a meeting between Xi and Modi on the sidelines of the summit is anticipated to produce incremental progress. Observers expect both leaders to announce troop withdrawals from sensitive border areas, ease trade and visa restrictions, and explore cooperation in areas such as climate and technology.
The easing of tensions could help India manage new tariff pressures from Washington. Analysts believe Modi views improved relations with Beijing as a way to safeguard India’s economic and strategic space in an uncertain global environment.
Optics Over Outcomes
While major policy breakthroughs are unlikely, the summit’s symbolic power should not be underestimated. Analysts emphasize that the event is about “optics, really powerful optics,” showcasing Global South solidarity at a time of shifting geopolitical realities.
The presence of Modi, Putin, and Xi together will serve as a striking image of multipolar diplomacy. For China, it underscores its growing role as a convening power. For Russia, it demonstrates resilience against Western isolation. And for India, it signals a pragmatic willingness to balance ties with multiple partners despite ongoing frictions.
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