Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to China on August 31, marking his first visit since the 2020 Galwan clash. His visit to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit comes at a complex geopolitical moment, with escalating trade tensions between India and the United States and a renewed push for closer India-Russia ties.
Modi-Xi Meet: From Border Tensions to Dialogue
The SCO Summit is expected to include a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The last time the two leaders met was at the 2024 BRICS summit in Russia, where they discussed border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). That meeting resulted in a patrolling agreement and partial disengagement in Depsang and Demchok—areas affected by the 2020 border standoff.
Modi’s visit signals a gradual normalization of ties with China, despite unresolved friction on the ground.
Trump’s Tariff Threats Over Russian Oil
Coinciding with Modi’s visit is a fresh trade standoff with the United States, where President Donald Trump has announced plans to increase tariffs on Indian goods beyond the current 25%, effective August 7, 2025.
In a fiery interview with CNBC, Trump accused India of not being “a good trading partner” and blamed New Delhi for “fueling the Russian war machine” by continuing oil imports from Moscow. He dismissed India’s offer of a “zero tariff” deal as inadequate and threatened harsher measures within 24 hours.
India Responds: “Unjustified and Hypocritical”
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly pushed back, calling Trump’s statements “unjustified and unreasonable.” The MEA highlighted that India’s oil imports are based on national interest, not political alliances, and emphasized Western hypocrisy.
The ministry pointed out that the EU imported a record 16.5 million tonnes of Russian LNG in 2024, and the US continues to buy uranium and fertilisers from Russia, even while pressuring others to stop.
Ajit Doval in Moscow: Strategic Talks
Adding to the diplomatic flurry, NSA Ajit Doval is in Moscow to discuss defence and energy ties with Russia. Sources say the visit will address “supplies of Russian oil” and broader strategic cooperation amid a geopolitically volatile environment.
Doval’s meetings aim to deepen Indo-Russian ties, especially as both countries face economic pressure from Washington.
Conclusion: A Tricky Balancing Act
As PM Modi heads to China and Ajit Doval engages Russia, India is walking a tightrope—seeking to maintain strategic autonomy while navigating pressures from the US. The coming weeks will reveal how well India can balance diplomacy, trade, and national interest in an increasingly polarized global order.
