A powerful and chilling image of geopolitical solidarity emerged from the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan, as the leaders of the world's two most formidable authoritarian states stood side-by-side.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping presented a united front, a stark visual representation of their deepening 'no-limits' partnership aimed at countering Western influence. The body language between the two was notably relaxed and collegial, signalling a strong personal and political bond.
Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's position appeared more ambiguous. Photographs from the event placed him alongside the Russo-Chinese axis, yet his nation's longstanding ties with the West and its membership in the Quad alliance with the US, Japan, and Australia create a complex diplomatic balancing act.
This summit, Putin's first major international trip since his re-election and a rare foreign excursion since the issuance of an ICC warrant, was rich with symbolism. The meeting between Putin and Xi lasted significantly longer than scheduled, underscoring the weight of their discussions on global security and economic cooperation outside Western-led institutions.
For NATO capitals and Western observers, the sight of these two leaders consolidating their alliance is a sobering development. It underscores a fundamental shift towards a multipolar world order where Western hegemony is no longer unchallenged.
The SCO, which includes central Asian nations, Iran, and Belarus, is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to NATO and the G7. This gathering was not merely a diplomatic formality; it was a deliberate demonstration of strategic alignment that will undoubtedly shape global affairs for years to come.
