In a move that analysts are calling a defining moment for 21st-century geopolitics, the Chinese capital played host to a formidable gathering of world leaders. Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, and Xi Jinping of China, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened for a series of closed-door meetings that could redraw the map of global influence.
The summit, held against a backdrop of escalating tensions with Western powers, was a potent demonstration of a burgeoning multipolar world. The discussions, described as ‘intensive and productive’, focused on strengthening economic cooperation, enhancing security coordination, and advancing a shared vision for an international order less dependent on the US dollar and Western-led institutions.
A Strategic Challenge to the West
The timing and composition of the meeting are deeply symbolic. With President Putin attending in person, the event served as a stark reminder of Russia's strategic pivot towards Asia and its deepening 'no-limits' partnership with China. For India's Modi, his presence underscores a delicate and pragmatic balancing act, maintaining ties with both Moscow and Western capitals.
President Erdoğan's role further complicates the Western strategic calculus. Turkey, a NATO member, continues to assert its independent foreign policy, seeking closer energy and trade links with Moscow and Beijing while leveraging its unique position.
The Pillars of Discussion
Key outcomes from the talks are believed to include:
- Economic Decoupling: Accelerating efforts to settle trade in local currencies, bypassing the US dollar and mitigating the impact of Western sanctions.
- Security Architecture: Discussions on regional security hotspots, including Ukraine and the South China Sea, though a unified public stance remains elusive.
- Infrastructure and Energy: bolstering connectivity projects and ensuring stable energy flows between the resource-rich nations and massive consumer markets.
While the group stopped short of announcing a formal new alliance, the cohesion displayed sends an unambiguous message. The world's centre of gravity is shifting, and these four nations are intent on crafting the rules of the new game.
