The 2025 SCO Summit in Tianjin, featuring a high-profile meeting between Russian President Putin, Chinese President Xi, and Indian Prime Minister Modi, was more than just a diplomatic spectacle—it was a pivotal moment highlighting the shifting dynamics in global alliances. As the United States grapples with unpredictability and economic confrontation, the visible camaraderie among these Eurasian leaders underscores the risks of Washington’s strategic complacency and the urgent need to reaffirm its partnership with India.

Amidst the presence of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders from over a dozen dialogue partner nations, the summit’s centerpiece was the rare display of unity among Putin, Xi, and Modi. Modi’s first visit to China in seven years—a period strained by border tensions and mutual restrictions—was marked by deliberate gestures of cooperation, signaling a collective intent to forge independent rules and alliances in response to U.S. protectionism and tariffs.

India’s engagement, however, is not a wholesale alignment with Russia or China. The nation continues to assert its strategic autonomy, as seen in its firm stance on terrorism and mobilization of global support for its positions. This nuanced approach reflects India’s longstanding policy of nonalignment, driven by self-interest and a desire to maximize leverage in an evolving world order.

Recent U.S. actions, including tariffs and threats over oil imports from Russia, have been perceived in New Delhi as a betrayal of decades of mutual respect and cooperation. These measures risk undermining the multidimensional partnership—spanning defense, technology, trade, and democratic values—that both Republican and Democratic administrations have painstakingly built since the late 1990s.

India’s demographic and economic potential positions it as a cornerstone of the Indo-Pacific’s democratic order. Penalizing it for hedging bets amid U.S.-China rivalry would be a costly strategic error. Instead, a pragmatic U.S. approach should prioritize partnership over pressure, recognizing that India’s goals of economic modernization and regional stability align closely with American interests when nurtured by respect and shared purpose.

The Tianjin summit serves as a timely reminder: short-termism and zero-sum thinking endanger the hard-won gains of the U.S.-India relationship. India is too significant to be taken for granted or coerced. By treating it as a true partner, the United States can secure enduring dividends for both nations and the rules-based global order.