Introduction

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent four-day foreign visit combined a blend of bilateral diplomacy with active multilateral engagement. His meetings with the leaders of Russia, China, and Japan were complemented by India’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin. This visit occurred during a period of global uncertainty marked by intense great power rivalry, regional conflicts, and a noticeable erosion of multilateralism. India’s diplomatic approach during this time reflects a carefully balanced strategy: leveraging bilateral relationships to protect and advance national interests while simultaneously using multilateral forums to raise concerns and foster institutional cooperation.

Key Bilateral Engagements

·       India’s engagements with Russia, China, and Japan reveal distinct strategic calculations.

·       Regarding India-Russia relations, the optics of Prime Minister Modi travelling alongside President Vladimir Putin underscored the enduring resilience of the bilateral partnership. Despite Western sanctions and significant pressure from the United States, India continues to value Russia for its defence cooperation, energy supplies, and role in geopolitical balancing. This relationship sends a clear message that India will resist external attempts to dictate the nature of its ties with Moscow.

·       In terms of India-China relations, the post-Galwan dynamic remains fraught with tension, yet dialogue at the highest levels persists. Modi’s talks with President Xi Jinping signal India’s understanding that managing competition with China requires ongoing communication. India also recognizes China’s influential role in multilateral institutions such as the SCO, BRICS, and various global trade bodies, making engagement necessary despite challenges.

·       With India-Japan relations, Modi reaffirmed India’s commitment to the Quad—a strategic grouping including India, the United States, Japan, and Australia—prior to his visit to China. Japan remains a significant investor in India’s infrastructure and technology sectors. India’s balancing act involves maintaining strong ties with Japan, a US ally, while continuing engagement with China on critical regional issues.

Multilateral Dimension: The SCO Summit at Tianjin

·       India’s participation in the SCO provides a crucial platform to engage with key Eurasian players such as Russia, China, and Central Asian states while countering Pakistan’s narratives. Having become a full SCO member in 2017, India leverages this forum to promote its regional and global interests.

·       The Tianjin Declaration emerged as an important milestone. For the first time, the declaration explicitly addressed terrorism and called for bringing perpetrators to justice—an issue India had found previously neglected in SCO statements. India successfully highlighted the problem of selective approaches to terrorism, pushing back against double standards. The inclusion of references to terrorist activities in Pakistan’s Balochistan underscored that these issues carry regional, not merely bilateral, implications.

·       Despite internal differences among member states, the summit conveyed a sense of collective responsibility as leaders from China, Russia, India, and Central Asia convened in uncertain global circumstances. Discussions also covered the Middle East crises, including the Gaza conflict and strikes on Iran, where India expressed deep concern, emphasizing its independent foreign policy stance.

Geopolitical Context

·       The evolving global order presents several challenges and opportunities for India.

·       The US factor involves American efforts to encourage India to distance itself from Russia. However, India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy means it continues to maintain its traditional ties with Moscow while expanding cooperation with Washington through the Quad and bilateral defence partnerships.

·       A multipolar world is increasingly emerging, with institutions such as the SCO, BRICS, and the G20 providing alternative platforms for diverse voices. India positions itself as a bridge between the Global South and advanced economies, navigating this complex landscape with finesse.

·       Eurasian importance remains high for India due to strategic considerations like connectivity, energy security, and counterterrorism. India’s active participation in the SCO ensures it remains relevant in Central Asia, despite Pakistan’s geographic advantage.

Domestic and Strategic Implications for India

·       India’s insistence on addressing terrorism within the SCO counters Pakistan’s attempts to internationalize Kashmir issues while simultaneously ignoring cross-border terrorism. This firm stance against double standards enhances India’s credibility on the global stage.

·       Strategically, India’s engagement with Russia and China, alongside strong ties with Japan and Quad partners, demonstrates an adept balancing act. By pursuing multiple diplomatic avenues, India avoids over-dependence on any single bloc, preserving flexibility in its foreign policy.

·       Multilateral forums like the SCO provide India with opportunities to test consensus, build coalitions around specific issues, and project an independent voice on global matters, such as the crises in Gaza and Iran.

Challenges and Criticisms

·       Several hurdles remain. Within the SCO, China and Pakistan often coordinate positions, restricting India’s maneuverability. Moreover, India’s views on Afghanistan, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and regional security issues do not always align with the SCO consensus.

·       India faces the challenge of balancing its commitments to the Quad while actively participating in the SCO, managing potentially conflicting alliances. The references to terrorism in SCO declarations, although present, tend to be broad and lack enforceable mechanisms.

·       Additionally, India must guard against perceptions that it is opportunistically switching between blocs rather than following a coherent and consistent foreign policy strategy.

Way Forward

·       To strengthen its diplomatic posture, India must continue emphasizing strategic autonomy and multi-alignment rather than full alignment with any single bloc. Deepening defence and energy ties with Russia, balancing this with cooperation with Japan and Quad partners on technology and security, and maintaining constructive engagement with China in regional forums will help preserve India’s independence in decision-making.

·       Institutionalizing anti-terrorism cooperation within the SCO is essential. India should advocate for a permanent anti-terrorism task force that can facilitate intelligence sharing, monitor threats, and build consensus on combating terrorism. Moving beyond symbolic statements to actionable mechanisms will enhance the forum’s effectiveness.

·       India should also diversify its energy and defence partnerships. While Russia remains vital for defence supplies, investments in indigenous defence manufacturing and broadening import sources are crucial to reducing over-reliance. In the energy sector, India must balance long-term contracts with Russia and Central Asia by developing renewable energy collaborations with Japan, the European Union, and the United States.

·       Beyond high-level diplomacy, India should promote people-to-people connections and economic integration with SCO countries. Encouraging academic exchanges, cultural diplomacy, tourism, and digital trade frameworks will deepen India’s strategic and cultural ties across Eurasia.

·       Finally, India must champion the interests of the Global South within forums like SCO and BRICS. By highlighting issues such as food security, debt sustainability, and equitable access to technology, India reinforces its leadership role among developing nations and aligns with its G20 presidency theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi’s four-day foreign visit showcased India’s dual diplomatic strategy: combining robust bilateral relations with active multilateral engagement. His efforts underline India’s evolving role as a global balancer—maintaining strategic autonomy, countering terrorism narratives, and fostering multipolar solidarity. In a world of shifting alliances and uncertainties, India’s ability to blend bilateral depth with multilateral breadth will be a defining factor in its diplomatic success.