As Prime Minister Narendra Modi exchanged warm greetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
And Chinese Premier Xi Jinping at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described New Delhi–Washington ties as a “defining relationship of the 21st century.”
In a post on X shared by the U.S. Embassy, Rubio said the India–U.S. partnership continues to “reach new heights,” highlighting cooperation in innovation, entrepreneurship, defense, and bilateral ties. The remarks came just minutes before Modi’s meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the summit.
The statement assumes significance as India, China, and Russia engage closely at the SCO amid Washington’s tariff war with New Delhi. President Donald Trump has imposed 50% duties on Indian exports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite Western sanctions. India has defended its stance, calling the tariffs “unfair and unjustified” while stressing that Russian oil imports are essential for the energy security of its 1.4 billion citizens.
The Tianjin summit projected strong optics of India’s ties with Moscow and Beijing. Modi and Putin were seen walking hand-in-hand before joining Xi in a lighthearted conversation that underscored the comfort level between the three leaders—sending a message of resilience in their strategic partnership despite U.S. pressure.
In a diplomatic boost for India, SCO member states condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, echoing Modi’s assertion that “double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.” With Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif present at the summit, the statement was seen as a significant victory for New Delhi.
The SCO declaration also denounced recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, calling them a violation of international law and the UN Charter. It warned that such actions endangered global security and stability, especially when civilian and nuclear infrastructure was targeted.
Comments are closed.