Indecisiveness of U.S.A., Post-Tianjin S.C.O. Summit

Having put the Doklam tussle of June 2017 and the direct confrontation with China in June 2022 in the background, India not only ensured the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra in June 2025 but also ended a five-year military standoff with China. After a lapse of seven years, the visit of an Indian Prime Minister to the land of the dragon materialised. The idea was not only to seek re-engagement but also to end the long chill in bilateral ties on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit at Tianjin.

Talks between the two Asian giants, both on the eve and sidelines of the SCO meet, are reported to have led to a somewhat fair and mutually acceptable resolution of the vexed border issue. These talks also emphasised the need for a multipolar world and the role the two economies could play in stabilising global trade. The hot and ticklish tariff issue too figured in discussions, as hinted in a guarded manner by the Indian Foreign Secretary.

From the tone and tenor of interactions between Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, there appeared to be some movement towards détente. Bilateral talks with Russia and China also looked positive. The idea was to re-cement ties with these countries—something that drew unwarranted criticism from the U.S., inferred from the utterances of Peter Navarro, U.S. Trade Advisor, and later spiced up by Howard Lutnick, U.S. Commerce Secretary.

SCO Meet at Tianjin

Addressing the summit, the Chinese President stressed his vision for a new global security and economic order that gives priority to the Global South—seen as a direct challenge to the U.S. He added that nations must take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics while practicing multilateralism.

Prime Minister Modi, in his address, made it abundantly clear that double standards on terrorism were unacceptable and that sovereignty and territorial integrity must remain the key factors. Referring eloquently to the brutal terror attack by Pakistani terrorists at Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, he said it was not only an assault on the conscience of India but also an open challenge to every nation and individual who believes in humanity. He pinpointed the urgent need to oppose terrorism in all its manifestations and to confront its facilitators.

In the presence of Turkey’s President and Pakistan’s Prime Minister—both seen as terrorism facilitators—Modi pressed for urgent reforms in the United Nations on the eve of its 80th anniversary. His frank remarks on terrorism did not go down well with the U.S., particularly given two recent invitations extended to Pakistan’s Field Marshal Munir to visit Washington.

Grand Military Parade

The day after the SCO Summit, a massive military parade at Tiananmen Square showcased China’s regional aspirations. Flanked by President Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and leaders of Iran, Pakistan, and other authoritarian states, President Xi issued a defiant warning against challenging China’s sovereignty. He declared that the Chinese people firmly stood on the right side of history—an implicit warning to Taiwan.

Reaction of the U.S.A.

As expected, U.S. President Donald Trump, upset with the emerging conglomeration of world leaders, reacted sharply. He remarked:

"Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the U.S.A."

Trump also posted a photo of Xi, Putin, and Modi together, stating:

"Looks like we have lost India and Russia to 'deepest & darkest' China. May they have a long and prosperous future together."

If that was not enough, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick went further, declaring:

"It will be on Donald Trump’s desk, how he wants to deal with Modi. That’s why he is the President." (sic)

Stand of MEA

“No comment,” said MEA Spokesman Jaisawal on Trump’s remarks. He outrightly rejected Peter Navarro’s charges as well.

Irrelevant and irresponsible comments from Lutnick also surfaced. He bluntly said:

"Either support the dollar, support the U.S.A., support the American consumer—the biggest client—or you are going to pay a 50% tariff. Chinese sell to us, Indians sell to us. We are a $30 trillion economy. They have to come back to the customer. Eventually, the customer (U.S. consumer) is always right."

India & Japan

Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Japan prior to the Tianjin SCO meeting proved fruitful, resulting in agreements on commerce, technology, security, and project management. Discussions presumably also touched upon the forthcoming QUAD meeting in India.

During the SCO, Modi succeeded in holding bilateral meetings with Xi and Putin. With Putin, he is understood to have discussed the Ukraine war and ways to strengthen economic cooperation.

Unfortunate Anti-India Tirade by Trump

President Trump has been wrongly targeting India for months, and it is high time India responded firmly.

Peter Navarro’s remark—"If India, the world’s largest democracy, wants to be treated like a strategic partner of the U.S., it needs to act like one"—was particularly insulting. The implication being that India must take guidance from Washington. Such inaccurate and misleading statements have been rightly rejected by MEA.

Crude Oil from Russia

India has stood firm, refusing to indicate any shift in its policy on Russian crude purchases. The Union Finance Minister stated:

"Whether it is Russian oil or anything else, it is our decision to buy from the place that suits our needs."

The attempt to link a 25% tariff with crude oil imports from Russia is unfortunate. India, the world’s third-largest oil consumer, has saved billions in foreign exchange by purchasing discounted Russian oil over the past three years.

Clubbing of India & Brazil by U.S. and Next BRICS Summit

Both India and Brazil have been slapped with a 50% U.S. tariff. Both SCO and BRICS are being viewed in Washington as anti-Western groupings.

At the upcoming BRICS Summit later this year, Brazil’s President Lula is expected to push discussions not only on tariffs but also on strengthening multilateralism.

The U.S., meanwhile, has gone further, calling BRICS “anti-American” and threatening an additional 10% tariff on imports from BRICS nations from July onwards.

Conclusion

The formal and informal discussions before and during the SCO Summit in Tianjin, and the subsequent show of strength at Tiananmen Square, all carried a common agenda—whether explicit or implicit. The signal to the U.S. was loud and clear.

Maintaining this momentum until the next BRICS Summit in Brazil is essential. Much remains to be done for humanity’s greater good, while present U.S. policies—from Ukraine to Gaza, from the Middle East to tariffs—are spreading nothing but ill will across the world.

By Alok K. Shrivastava, Ex-Chief Secretary, Govt. of Sikkim