India’s diplomatic waltz has never been more pronounced than in its recent engagements at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin and the simultaneous deepening of ties with Japan through a comprehensive agreement. The excitement surrounding the SCO and the Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral balances out somewhat with New Delhi’s strategic move towards Tokyo.
This reveals a calculated act in a world increasingly fractured by great-power rivalries. The one thing that would now remain of a lot of interest to observers around the world is how successfully New Delhi navigates these partnerships to secure its interests amidst global uncertainties.
SCO Summit: A Platform for Regional Ambitions
The SCO Summit, held from August 31 to September 1, 2025, in Tianjin, marked a significant moment for India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to China in seven years underscored a thawing in India-China relations, strained since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
The summit saw Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping pledge to view their nations as “development partners, not rivals,” signalling a pragmatic reset driven by shared grievances, notably the brazen unpredictability of the US. India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized a phased approach to resolving border disputes, with an Expert Group established to tackle less contentious areas first.
ALSO READ: MAGA hate-binge against India: It makes a deal much harder
The SCO, comprising ten member states including Russia, China, India, represents 42% of the global population and 23% of nominal GDP. Its symbolic weight as a counterbalance to Western-led institutions like NATO was evident in Tianjin, where China announced a new SCO development bank and $1.68 billion in grants and loans. For India, the SCO offers a platform to engage Eurasian powers while maintaining its non-aligned stance.
RIC Revival: A MASSIVE Counterweight, but with Caveats
The potential revival of the RIC trilateral, first envisioned by Russian statesman Yevgeny Primakov in the 1990s, emerged as a key discussion point at the SCO. Moscow’s push to resurrect RIC aims to counter U.S. dominance, leveraging the combined economic and military heft of Russia, India, and China. The trio’s public display of camaraderie — Modi, Xi, and Vladimir Putin holding hands — projected unity against Western sanctions and tariffs.
However, there are three primary issues. One, there are underlying issues about historical mistrust pertaining to the Indo-China border dispute, which keep this partnership a little complicated as of now. Despite recent agreements on border patrolling, scepticism lingers; analysts like Happymon Jacob note that a lasting rapprochement still remains elusive.
Number two is the economic angle. India’s economic leverage within RIC is limited. Russia-China trade, surpassing $200 billion, dwarfs India’s economic integration with either. That aside, New Delhi remains dependent on maintaining access to U.S. technology and markets. This has the possibility of relegating RIC as a supplementary rather than a primary alignment.
Finally the third issue is the trilateral’s revival, while symbolically potent, risks being undercut by China’s continuous support for a failed economy such as Pakistan.
The Japan Pact is a Strategic Counterbalance
On August 29–30, 2025, Modi’s visit to Japan solidified a comprehensive agreement that deepens the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Japan pledged to double its investment target to $68 billion, building on the $34 billion achieved ahead of schedule.
The 2011 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) continues to drive trade, though skewed in Japan’s favour, with $18.9 billion in imports versus $6.2 billion in Indian exports in 2024–25. Defence cooperation also advanced, with a Memorandum of Implementation for co-developing the Unified Complex Radio Antennae (UNICORN) for Indian naval vessels, signalling a leap in security ties.
This pact reflects India’s hedging strategy. As U.S.-India relations strain under Trump’s tariffs and criticism of India’s Russian oil purchases, Japan offers a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad remains a cornerstone of India’s maritime strategy, countering China’s assertiveness. Yet, India’s simultaneous SCO engagement ensures it avoids being boxed into a purely anti-China bloc, preserving flexibility in a multipolar world.
RIC and ties with Japan: Navigating the Tightrope
India’s dual track of engaging the SCO and RIC while strengthening ties with Japan, embodies its doctrine of strategic autonomy. The SCO provides a Eurasian foothold, but the clear China tilt of the platform limit India’s enthusiasm. The RIC offers a stand to amplify India’s voice against Western hegemony, yet unresolved tensions with China temper its potential. Conversely, the Japan agreement bolsters India’s economic and security resilience, aligning with its Indo-Pacific ambitions without fully alienating Beijing.
This balancing act is not without risks. India must manage trade imbalances with Japan, resolve longstanding issues with China, and mitigate U.S. displeasure over its Russian ties. Yet, by leveraging these partnerships, India positions itself as a pivotal player, channelling global tensions into diplomatic opportunities. As Modi navigates this complex landscape, India’s multi-alignment strategy underscores a singular truth: in a world of shifting alliances, flexibility is remains an advantage.
