Are China and India truly allies now? Leaders signal a shift, but tensions remain.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared themselves "partners, not rivals" at the recent SCO summit, according to DW. This marks a notable effort to downplay existing geopolitical friction between the two nations.
The meeting, also attended by Russian President Putin, occurred amidst global uncertainty, with some analysts suggesting China is attempting to leverage U.S. political turmoil, as reported by the Washington Post. Putin and Modi were even seen holding hands during the summit, as noted by The Telegraph.
China pledged increased investments to strengthen its security bloc, as reported by Bloomberg, signaling a broader ambition to counter the U.S.-led global order. The SCO, with 29 member states, represents a significant platform for alternative international cooperation.
Experts will be closely watching future actions to see if this partnership translates into concrete policy changes and reduced border disputes.
