Tianjin: As world leaders converged in China’s port city of Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin drew attention with a warm exchange of greetings that included a firm handshake and a friendly hug. The gesture underscored the camaraderie between the two leaders at a time when global geopolitics is marked by shifting alliances and heightened uncertainty.
In a post on X, PM Modi shared photographs of the meeting, writing, “Always a delight to meet President Putin.” The two leaders are scheduled to hold formal bilateral talks later in the day, but their light-hearted interaction at the summit venue set a cordial tone for the discussions ahead.
The Modi-Putin rapport has long been a defining feature of India-Russia ties, often marked by personal warmth alongside strategic engagement. Their meeting in Tianjin comes against the backdrop of evolving dynamics in Asia and Europe, with India balancing its partnerships between traditional allies like Russia and newer collaborations with Western powers.
Diplomatic observers note that the SCO summit provides a timely opportunity for both leaders to reaffirm their shared positions on multilateral cooperation, regional security, and energy partnerships. The personal warmth expressed through Modi’s handshake and hug with Putin is seen as a symbolic reaffirmation of trust between New Delhi and Moscow.
The SCO gathering, attended by more than 20 foreign leaders, is expected to produce significant deliberations on trade, connectivity, counterterrorism, and the role of member states in promoting multipolarity in the international order. Within this context, the visible camaraderie between Modi and Putin is likely to shape the tone of India-Russia engagements during and beyond the summit.
Both leaders, who last met in Kazan earlier this year, are expected to deepen discussions on energy security, defense cooperation, and mechanisms to expand bilateral trade in local currencies. Analysts suggest that Modi’s outreach to Putin also signals India’s intent to maintain a pragmatic balance in its foreign policy, ensuring strong ties with Russia even as it navigates complex relations with the West.
For Modi, the Tianjin summit marks not only a multilateral engagement but also an occasion to reinforce bilateral goodwill with key partners like Russia and China. The embrace with Putin, broadcast widely across media platforms, was a reminder that diplomacy often begins with gestures of trust before translating into strategic outcomes.