The SCO Summit 2025 in Tianjin, China, marked a defining moment in the global power struggle. For years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was dismissed in Western capitals as a symbolic forum. But this 25th Heads of State Council proved otherwise.
This time, the SCO did not just talk. It challenged the foundations of the Western-led order, projecting a multipolar world where Asia, Eurasia, and the Global South no longer take instructions from Washington or Brussels.
What Happened in Tianjin: Key Facts
- When & Where: 31 August–1 September 2025, at the Meijiang Convention & Exhibition Centre, Tianjin, China. Beijing held the rotating chair.
- Who Attended: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and leaders from Central Asia and Belarus.
- New Member: Belarus entered as the first European full member in July 2024.
- Scale of the Bloc: With 10 full members, 2 observers, and 14 dialogue partners, the SCO now represents 42–43% of the world population and 23% of global GDP (nominal) (~36% PPP). That is larger than the G7 in population and resource power.
Major Outcomes of SCO Summit 2025
1. SCO Development Bank
The summit’s headline outcome was the proposal for an SCO Development Bank. China backed the idea with a $1.4 billion pledge in loans and credit lines to support projects in critical minerals, infrastructure, and energy corridors. For the West, this was a warning bell, as parallel banking structures make sanctions less effective.
2. Multipolar Order Declared
Russian President Vladimir Putin used the platform to promote a Eurasia-centric security framework, openly positioning it as an alternative to NATO’s Euro-Atlantic system. Xi reinforced that global governance should no longer be dictated by the West, but shaped by emerging powers.
The phrase “multipolar world order” became the summit’s defining message.
3. Energy and Minerals Integration
The SCO is aligning oil, gas, and mineral supply chains. With Russia and Iran’s energy exports, Central Asia’s hydrocarbons, and China’s vast demand, the bloc can reshape regional energy flows. India’s rising imports of Russian oil only strengthen this axis, bypassing Western chokepoints.
Why the West is Deeply Worried
Institution-Building Outside the West
The SCO Development Bank is more than economics. It is geopolitical defiance. Alongside the BRICS New Development Bank, it reduces reliance on the IMF, World Bank, and the U.S. dollar.
Energy Leverage
If Russia, Iran, and Central Asia coordinate supplies, and India and China act as guaranteed buyers, Western control over energy pricing collapses.
Security Narratives
Moscow’s Eurasian security framework is not a military alliance yet, but symbolically, it signals that NATO’s grip on Eurasia is weakening.
Political Optics
At a time when the U.S. is imposing fresh tariffs on Chinese goods and Europe faces economic stagnation, the SCO projected unity, resilience, and an alternative centre of gravity.
Pakistan’s Uneasy Position
While India, Russia, China, and Iran showcased strength at Tianjin, Pakistan stood isolated.
- China is sidelining Pakistan as it builds ties with India, nine years after Doklam, driven by U.S. pressure and trade issues, focusing on stability over Pakistan’s repeated demands.
- Pakistan is drifting toward Washington, hoping for IMF bailouts, but this makes it less relevant in Eurasian forums.
- At the summit, PM Modi and Putin visibly ignored Pakistan’s presence, underlining Islamabad’s diminishing role in the SCO’s future.
- With its debt crisis worsening, Pakistan remains dependent on IMF bailouts, a humiliating position while others discuss de-dollarisation.
- Even more worrying, Pakistan’s military chief, Asim Munir, was invited to the White House twice in one month. Despite Pakistan’s nuclear threats against India and the world, Washington stayed silent, showing double standards. U.S. weapons failed Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, Chinese weapons did too, yet Washington continues to prop up Islamabad mainly to keep India in check.
In short, Pakistan has turned into a spectator at a table where India is a power broker.
India’s Role at the SCO Summit 2025
India balanced diplomacy with strategic independence:
- By engaging in SCO and BRICS, New Delhi strengthens ties with Eurasia.
- By keeping links with Washington it ensures access to technology and markets.
- With U.S.–India relations strained over tariffs, defence restrictions, and criticism of domestic policies, India now has the leverage to play both sides.
- Even as Donald Trump keeps repeating that India’s economy is “dead,” the numbers prove otherwise. India’s economy surged 7.8% in Q1 2025, the fastest growth rate in the world, outpacing both China and the U.S.
The SCO Summit 2025 gave India room to manoeuvre, something Washington fears most.
Speculation Around Modi–Putin Defence Talks
After the SCO Summit 2025, Prime Minister Modi and President Putin shared a car and proceeded directly to a private meeting space, where they spoke for over 1.5 hours. Officially, the talks focused on energy and trade, but the length of the meeting suggests defence cooperation was also on the table.
Key possibilities:
- Su-57 for India with transfer of technology
- Super Sukhoi upgrades for the Su-30MKI fleet
- Next-gen BrahMos missiles with greater range and speed
- HAL Nashik assessment for future Su-57 production
This shows the SCO summit was not just diplomacy, but also a platform to shape the future of India–Russia defence ties.
Discover: India to Buy 5th Gen Fighter Jet: F-35 or Su-57?
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SCO and BRICS: The Synergy
The SCO–BRICS overlap is the West’s nightmare scenario:
- Political declarations at SCO: Financing via BRICS New Development Bank
- Local currency settlements at SCO: Cross-border rails in BRICS
- Connectivity projects like INSTC: Backed by both platforms
All the BRICS nations are coming together to counter the U.S. dollar and rising tariffs. With three of the world’s four most powerful leaders, India, China and Russia, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Global South, the world order has just changed.
Together, they form a parallel governance model that the West can no longer control.
Why SCO Summit 2025 is a Turning Point
- SCO is no longer symbolic. It is an institution-builder.
- De-dollarisation is real, and sanctions are losing effectiveness.
- Energy flows are shifting East, away from U.S. and European control.
- India has emerged as a pivotal balancing power, not a follower.
- Pakistan is marginalised, caught between IMF debt, U.S. manipulation, and fading Chinese support.
Why Washington Can’t Ignore SCO Anymore
The U.S. once dismissed the SCO as irrelevant. However, the scale of population, GDP, resources, and military potential now makes it impossible to ignore.
Washington’s real fear is not just China or Russia. It is India refusing to be a loyal Western ally. India’s active role in the SCO and BRICS means the U.S. cannot fully control the Indo-Pacific narrative.
The unipolar world is collapsing, and Tianjin was the announcement.
FAQs About SCO Summit 2025
Q1. What is the SCO Development Bank?
It is a proposed bank to finance Eurasian projects outside Western control, backed by China’s $1.4B pledge.
Q2. Why is the West worried about SCO 2025?
Because it promotes de-dollarisation, energy integration, and multipolar governance, weakening U.S. sanctions and NATO narratives.
Q3. What role did India play in SCO 2025?
India balanced East and West, using SCO to strengthen energy and trade links while maintaining ties with Washington.
Q4. Why is Pakistan sidelined?
Because it depends on IMF bailouts, it is drifting toward the U.S., was ignored by Modi and Putin, and is reduced to making nuclear threats while Washington stays silent.
Final Word
The SCO Summit 2025 was not just about speeches. It was about rewriting global power structures. For the West, it signalled the erosion of its dominance. For India, it was a reminder that balancing great powers brings leverage. For Pakistan, it was humiliation.
The world order has changed, and the multipolar era has already begun.