Monday’s meeting between Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and India’s Narendra Modi offered a striking show of solidarity and a platform for Putin to engage directly with his top oil buyers.
Since Western nations cut ties with Moscow over the 2022 Ukraine invasion, Russia has leaned heavily on India and China, offering cheaper oil that both nations eagerly snapped up. Now, beyond energy, the three powers are deepening their alignment, united by a shared rival: the United States.
Washington has slapped Russia with sanctions and imposed sweeping tariffs on trade partners buying Russian crude. India, already hit with some of the steepest duties for sourcing Russian oil, has condemned the tariffs as “unjustified.” China, meanwhile, remains in delicate talks with the US to avoid further penalties.
The Tianjin summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) provided an arena for Moscow, Beijing, and New Delhi to reinforce ties while signalling an alternative to Western influence. Analysts say it underscored their readiness to push back against US dominance.
Russia’s Lifeline
India and China have kept Russia’s economy afloat. Last year, China bought over 100 million tonnes of Russian crude about 20% of its imports while India, once a marginal buyer, has ramped up imports to $140bn since 2022. Together, they now absorb the bulk of Russia’s energy exports, which fund a quarter of its state budget and its war chest.
Experts believe Moscow may offer further discounts to India to secure sales despite Washington’s pressure. For Modi, doubling down on Russian oil enhances his domestic standing, sending a political signal that India won’t bow to US dictates.
China’s Stakes
China, also expanding oil purchases from Russia, aims to safeguard its energy security while positioning itself as leader of a “multi-polar” world order. The SCO, with members including Pakistan, Iran, and Sri Lanka, all hit by Trump-era tariffs is Beijing’s platform to project strength against Washington.
A Strategic Alignment
Though geopolitical rivalries persist among the three, analysts note that US tariffs and sanctions have created strong economic incentives to “join hands.”
The summit was more than symbolism: it was a calculated move to rebalance global power.
