China, Russia, India Strengthen SCO Coalition Challenging US Influence

Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent extended visit to China signals a deepening alliance with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, aimed at resisting U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to weaken their partnership. At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Xi Jinping unveiled plans to expand the organization's role by initiating a development bank, an international energy cooperation platform, and enabling member states to use China's BeiDou satellite system, challenging U.S. global leadership. The SCO, now comprising ten full members including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, represents a growing coalition seeking to create a multipolar world order opposing Western dominance. Both leaders emphasized rejecting Cold War mentalities and power bloc confrontations, advocating instead for a new global governance system centered on the United Nations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's participation and warming ties with China reflect shifting geopolitical alignments in Asia, influenced in part by perceived shortcomings in U.S. diplomacy under President Trump. The SCO summit underscores the bloc's intent to project unity and strength amid ongoing global conflicts and trade disputes, positioning itself as a counterweight to Western alliances.