Xi, Putin and Modi are grinning and smiling, but at whom?
Narendra Modi sends message to Washington with warm embraces of Chinese, Russian leaders in Tianjin
As the three leaders mingled, one interpreter translated Putin’s words, which began with “We three friends …”, before a broadcast signal provided by the summit press centre drowned out the rest of the translation.
Modi laughed several times during the conversation and clasped Putin’s hands a second time.
Earlier, Modi and Putin embraced on the red carpet and exchanged greetings before walking hand in hand towards a smiling Xi, who was waiting to greet them.
Last week, Trump’s trade adviser, Peter Navarro, described India as “a massive refining hub and oil money laundromat for the Kremlin”, further upsetting Modi.
The moves have been seen as Trump’s “humiliation” of Modi, with whom he had previously enjoyed close ties.
India, which has been slapped with 50 per cent tariffs on goods exported to the US, is trying to mend ties with neighbouring China after a simmering border dispute turned deadly in 2020. Relations started to thaw at a summit in Kazan, Russia, last October and a partial patrol agreement was put in place with both sides pledging to maintain a “peaceful” border.
China, which has accused Washington of multi-front containment, including an ongoing trade war, is a close partner of Russia, which remains under heavy US sanctions for the war in Ukraine. The steep tariffs on India imposed by the Trump administration have prompted worries in Washington that they will push India closer to China.
After their group photograph, Modi approached Putin and Xi once more. The three continued their conversation before proceeding into the summit venue.
Photos of Modi warmly embracing Putin and chatting with both Putin and Xi were posted to the Indian leader’s social media account during the summit.
“Always a delight to meet President Putin!” Modi wrote in one post.
“Interactions in Tianjin continue! Exchanging perspectives with President Putin and President Xi during the SCO Summit,” he wrote in another post, which included photos of him in talks with the other two leaders.
Modi and Putin continued to speak one-on-one after the summit ended on Monday morning, with further updates also promptly shared on Modi’s social media account. Modi also posted a photo of himself and Putin in the Russian leader’s armoured limousine travelling to a venue for their bilateral meeting.
On Sunday evening, Xi and Putin shared similar moments before a gala dinner.
Putin was the last to appear as Xi and China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan, greeted leaders and posed for photos before the welcome banquet.
Xi greeted Putin with a double-handed handshake, unlike the more formal handshakes he shared with the other leaders, and talked to the Russian leader nearly two minutes longer than the other leaders.
Putin was accompanied by a “large and significant” delegation to China, Russian media reported, including three deputy prime ministers, more than 10 ministers and representatives from major companies.