commentary

The largest-ever SCO summit in the Chinese port city of Tianjin created a big buzz and garnered headlines in key global capitals. Blending symbolism and substance, the two-day SCO summit in China on August 31-September 1, 2025, turned into a riveting show of the Global South solidarity, underlining a joint resolve by the leaders of around 20 countries to shape a more just, representative and polycentric world order. The leaders of the three big countries of SCO – China, Russia, and India – chatting and sharing a joke was the most striking picture to emerge from the summit in Tianjin. The picture, which went viral across multiple media platforms, showcased the defiance of these countries against US President Donald Trump’s weaponisation of tariffs and bullying, which brought even the leaders of India and China in a huddle with Russian President Vladimir Putin