Modi, Xi & Putin at SCO: Real story behind optics of world’s most consequential leaders | Explained

PM Narendra Modi’s meeting with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit in Bishkek has put India’s complex geopolitical balancing act in focus. While India continues to cautiously engage China, its strategic partnership with Russia remains strong. At the same time, New Delhi remains firmly engaged with the US and its Quad partners. So, what does the Modi-Xi-Putin moment really signal? This explainer looks at India’s SCO strategy, the China thaw, Modi-Putin ties and why New Delhi is preserving strategic space amid intensifying global power competition.