US hails ties with India as “defining relationship” just before PM Modi–Putin talks

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping with smiles and handshakes.

Just minutes before Modi’s meeting with Putin, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called India–U.S. ties a “defining relationship of the 21st century.”

In a post on X shared by the U.S. Embassy, Rubio said the partnership continues to “reach new heights,” driven by cooperation in innovation, defense, and bilateral trade. His remarks came against the backdrop of escalating tensions, with Washington imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. India has dismissed the tariffs as “unfair and unjustified,” insisting that Russian imports are vital for its energy security.

The SCO summit highlighted India’s balancing act. Modi and Putin were seen walking together before engaging Xi in a lighthearted exchange, a show of camaraderie that signaled India’s unwillingness to bow to U.S. pressure on its Russia policy.

In a diplomatic win for New Delhi, SCO members jointly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, endorsing Modi’s call that “double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.” With Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in attendance, the statement was viewed as a significant success for India.

The summit declaration also condemned U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran in June, calling them a violation of international law and warning they undermine regional and global stability.