India Strengthens Ties with Russia and China Amidst US Tariffs and Border Disputes
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the SCO summit, strengthening strategic partnerships, addressing US tariffs and border disputes.
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Overview
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the SCO summit in China, reaffirming their "special and privileged" relationship despite India facing steep US tariffs.
- The leaders discussed India's challenges with US tariffs imposed due to its purchase of Russian oil and weapons, with trade between India and Russia sharply increasing to $68.7 billion.
- Modi also met Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the first time in seven years at the SCO summit to address strained bilateral relations and long-standing border differences.
- Both India and China pledged to resolve border issues, restart talks, issue visas, and resume direct flights, aiming to rebuild trust and foster continuous, healthy growth in their relationship.
- These diplomatic engagements highlight India's efforts to navigate complex international relations, balancing partnerships with Russia and China amidst US tariff pressures and historical tensions.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by portraying President Trump's tariff policies as counterproductive, actively pushing India away from the U.S. and towards closer ties with Russia and China. They emphasize the negative consequences of these tariffs on U.S. strategic interests, suggesting Trump's actions are inadvertently strengthening rival powers and undermining American influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
"The camaraderie with Putin in Tianjin is being seen in the context of the Trump threats."
BBC News"Modi’s meeting with Putin underscored New Delhi’s stance that India prized its old and reliable strategic partners and has sufficient strategic autonomy in its foreign policy to maintain and strengthen its multi-dimensional partnership."
ABC News"Modi said in his opening remarks that relations with China have moved in “a meaningful direction,” adding that “there is a peaceful environment at the borders after disengagement."
ABC News"Modi said there was now an "atmosphere of peace and stability" between them."
BBC News"The meeting between Modi and Xi will not remove the structural issues between India and China."
NBC News"As long as they remain committed to the overarching goal of being partners, not rivals, and providing development opportunities, not threats, China-India relations will flourish and move forward steadily."
Associated PressArticles (10)
Center (6)
FAQ
India faces US tariffs mainly because of its purchase of Russian oil and weapons, which has led to US penalties amid geopolitical tensions.
The trade between India and Russia reached a record $68.7 billion in FY 2024-25, nearly six times the pre-pandemic level, highlighting a sharply growing and significant economic relationship.
India and China have pledged to resolve border issues, restart talks, issue visas, and resume direct flights, marking a nascent rapprochement since an October 2024 border agreement that allowed a reset of relations.
India aims to strengthen strategic partnerships to balance US tariff pressures and longstanding tensions, promote economic and diplomatic ties, and foster continuous growth with both Russia and China amid complex international dynamics.
While political alignment exists on paper, meaningful economic projects under the Russia-India-China framework remain limited, largely due to ongoing India-China tensions constraining wider trilateral initiatives.
History
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