Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Sep 2: In a striking display of geopolitical camaraderie, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen sharing smiles and warm moments at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin — visuals that quickly went viral across the globe, including in the United States.
The images and videos of the three leaders shaking hands and chatting informally were interpreted by major U.S. media outlets as a powerful message aimed at challenging American global dominance, particularly in light of U.S. President Donald Trump’s hardline trade policies.
Media coverage in the U.S. reflected growing concern. The New York Times dubbed the encounter a "smiling manifestation of a troika" positioning itself as an alternative to Washington-led leadership. The spotlight moment came when Putin invited Modi to ride with him in his limousine — a gesture widely seen as symbolic of deepening ties.
CNN focused on the summit's high-stakes optics, noting Xi’s elaborate welcome for Modi and Putin and the underlying message of the SCO as a rising counterbalance to the West. Fox News went further, describing the trilateral display as a "clear rebuke" to Washington — especially after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued oil imports from Russia.
Experts weighed in as well. Eurasia Group’s Jeremy Chan told CNBC that Trump's tariff offensive had “inadvertently reenergised” the SCO, providing China with an opportunity to lead the Global South and pushing India to hedge its strategic bets.
An editorial in The Washington Post warned that Trump's confrontational approach could backfire, arguing that U.S.-India tensions shouldn’t undermine joint efforts to contain China’s influence. The Wall Street Journal echoed similar concerns, stating the visual unity at the summit was a direct challenge to Trump’s unconventional foreign policy playbook.
In response, Trump took to social media, calling the U.S.-India trade relationship “one-sided” and pressuring India for deeper tariff concessions, though he cautioned that “time is running out.”