Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to host Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. More than 20 world leaders are expected to attend, making this one of the largest gatherings since the bloc was founded in 2001. Analysts say the event will serve as a highly visible demonstration of Global South solidarity at a time when Washington is trying to counterbalance the influence of Beijing, Moscow, and New Delhi.

Why the Meeting Carries Weight

This summit is significant because it brings together three leaders who represent some of the largest economies and most powerful militaries outside of the West. It will also mark Modi’s first visit to China in more than seven years, showing that India and China are working to ease tensions after their deadly border clashes in 2020. Putin, who continues to face isolation from the West over the war in Ukraine, sees this as another chance to project strength and prove that Russia is not without important allies.

Eric Olander, editor-in-chief of The China-Global South Project, explained why Beijing sees the summit as a stage to challenge the global order. “Xi will want to use the summit as an opportunity to showcase what a post-American-led international order begins to look like and that all White House efforts since January to counter China, Iran, Russia, and now India have not had the intended effect,” Olander said. He added, “Just look at how much BRICS has rattled (U.S. President) Donald Trump, which is precisely what these groups are designed to do.”

Even if the summit produces limited policy outcomes, the symbolism of three major leaders from Asia appearing together in China is already seen as a diplomatic victory for Beijing. “This summit is about optics, really powerful optics,” Olander said.

The Role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

The SCO was established in 2001 as a regional security bloc focused mainly on counter-terrorism and stability in Eurasia. Over time it has grown into an organization with 10 permanent members and 16 dialogue or observer countries, stretching across Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Its mission has expanded from security into areas of economic and military cooperation, though many observers argue that its practical results remain limited.

Manoj Kewalramani, chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Research Programme at the Takshashila Institution in Bangalore, said the group’s true impact lies more in image than in action. “What is the precise vision that the SCO represents and its practical implementation are rather fuzzy. It is a platform that has increasing convening power, which helps in narrative projection,” he explained. However, he added that “the SCO’s effectiveness in addressing substantial security issues remains very limited.”

Friction Among Members

The SCO also faces challenges from divisions between its member states. Relations between India and Pakistan remain tense, and this year’s June meeting of SCO defense ministers failed to produce a joint statement after India objected. New Delhi argued that the statement failed to reference the April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir, which triggered the worst fighting between India and Pakistan in decades. India also declined to join the SCO’s condemnation of Israeli attacks on Iran earlier in the summer.

Despite these frictions, analysts believe the Tianjin summit will emphasize common ground. With U.S. tariffs again pressuring India under Trump’s second presidency, Modi is expected to prioritize strengthening ties with China while continuing to press for recognition of Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

India’s foreign ministry has outlined key priorities for the SCO, including trade, connectivity, respect for sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Modi is expected to hold bilateral talks with Xi on the sidelines, where both sides could announce steps to improve relations. These may include partial troop withdrawals along their disputed border, easing trade and visa restrictions, and new areas of cooperation such as climate initiatives and broader people-to-people exchanges.

Observers also anticipate that Putin will work to strengthen Russia’s role within the bloc. For Moscow, the SCO summit provides a rare chance to demonstrate diplomatic clout at a time when NATO pressure and Western sanctions remain high. Russian officials in New Delhi recently confirmed that Moscow hopes trilateral talks among China, Russia, and India will take place soon.

After the summit concludes, Modi will return to India, but Putin will stay in China to attend a World War Two military parade in Beijing. His decision to remain abroad for an unusually long time is seen as a calculated move to highlight Russia’s enduring partnership with China.

Why the Optics Favor China

For China, the gathering is less about achieving breakthroughs in policy and more about creating a vivid image of leadership among the Global South. A Chinese foreign ministry official noted that this year’s summit will be the largest in SCO history and described the organization as “an important force in building a new type of international relations.” The optics of Xi standing shoulder to shoulder with Modi and Putin send a strong signal that the world is moving toward a multipolar order where U.S. dominance is increasingly questioned.

While skeptics point out that the SCO has not delivered meaningful outcomes in two decades, its growing convening power makes it an effective stage for narrative projection. The fact that Xi, Modi, and Putin will appear together in China demonstrates to both domestic and international audiences that Beijing has the ability to gather powerful allies despite Washington’s efforts to isolate it.

Reactions from the United States and Beyond

In Washington, the summit is seen as a challenge to U.S. leadership. Supporters of Trump argue that his policies are necessary to protect American interests, even as they acknowledge that sanctions and tariffs may be pushing rival powers closer together. Critics warn that the U.S. risks ceding influence in the Global South if it fails to counterbalance China’s ability to convene such high-profile gatherings.

Outside of the U.S., views are mixed. Some analysts emphasize the limited effectiveness of the SCO and argue that the summit will produce little more than staged photographs. Others caution against underestimating the message such gatherings send to countries that feel left out of Western-led alliances.

In the end, the Tianjin summit is not expected to change the balance of global power overnight. But it will produce images of Xi, Modi, and Putin standing side by side in China, and that alone is enough to carry weight. As Olander concluded, “This summit is about optics, really powerful optics.”