‘Reaching new heights’: As PM Modi meets Xi and Putin, US embassy hails ‘partnership’ with India

As the United States appears cornered as a result of President Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign and trade policies to reset the global order, the US Embassy in New Delhi struck a concilliatory note on Monday, September 1, hailing the “enduring friendship” and “partnership” between the two countries.

The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century. This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defense and… pic.twitter.com/tjd1tgxNXi

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) September 1, 2025

Through a social media post, the US Embassy said the partnership continues to “reach new heights” and stands as a defining relationship of the 21st century. The statement emphasised that the bond between the two countries is not just rooted in shared strategic and economic interests but also in the enduring friendship between their peoples.

“The partnership between the United States and India continues to reach new heights — a defining relationship of the 21st century. This month, we’re spotlighting the people, progress, and possibilities driving us forward. From innovation and entrepreneurship to defense and bilateral ties, it’s the enduring friendship between our two peoples that fuels this journey,” its post on X read.

The campaign, promoted under the hashtag #USIndiaFWDforOurPeople, to focus on Washington’s commitment to highlight collaboration in innovation, entrepreneurship, defence and bilateral cooperation.

It also comes at a politically significant moment, coinciding with India’s engagements at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, where global realignments and regional rivalries were on full display.

The social media post shared US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s remarks made on India’s Republic Day, much before Trump pushed his unsettling tariff agenda.

US reaffirms commitment on India’s Republic Day

Earlier this year, on January 26, Rubio extended warm congratulations to India on its Republic Day. His message placed India’s Constitution at the heart of the world’s largest democracy, stressing its enduring global relevance.

“The enduring friendship between our two peoples is the bedrock of our cooperation and propels us forward as we realise the tremendous potential of our economic relationship,” Rubio had said.

Rubio echoed a familiar refrain that the India–US partnership will be a defining feature of this century. He pointed to areas of expanding collaboration ranging from space research to the Quad framework, which seeks to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The emphasis on people-to-people connections and the economic potential of bilateral cooperation reinforced Washington’s intent to consolidate its role as one of New Delhi’s most consequential partners.

The US embassy’s X post recalled Rubio’s commitment to India-UD bilateral ties.

Strategic timing against a complex backdrop

The timing of the US Embassy’s social media has drawn considerable attention. It coincided with the SCO summit in Tianjin, where India engaged in high-profile bilateral meetings with both Russia and China.

These conversations unfolded against a backdrop of strained US ties with Beijing and Moscow, marked by trade frictions, geopolitical rivalries and competing visions for global governance. The juxtaposition of Washington’s outreach and New Delhi’s parallel engagements in Tianjin highlights India’s significance as a global geostrategic player int eh emerging world order.

India is nurturing its traditional partnerships with Moscow and evaluating its ties with Beijing  as Trump’s policies pose new challenges to bilateral diplomatic ties. The imposition of a massive 50 per cent tariff on New Delhi by Washington for purchasing Russian crude and linking it to the Russia-Ukraine war has complicated the bilateral ties.

India–Russia: Standing together in difficult times

Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit to reaffirm the resilience of the India–Russia partnership. PM Modi described interactions with Putin as “always memorable” and emphasised that the two nations had stood together even in the most difficult times. He also extended an invitation for Putin to visit India in December, signaling the continuity of high-level exchanges.

For his part, President Putin called the relationship principled and multifaceted, noting that cooperation spans across several sectors. He framed the Tianjin meeting as another good opportunity to consolidate and expand ties. This reaffirmation of trust and mutual respect reflects the historical depth of the India–Russia relationship, which has weathered shifting geopolitical currents and continues to serve as a pillar of India’s foreign policy.

India–China: Elephant and dragon walking together

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, PM Modi also met Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday, a dialogue watched closely given the lingering sensitivities over the border issue. Both leaders struck a conciliatory tone, emphasising cooperation over rivalry.

PM Modi stressed that peace and stability along the border, achieved after the disengagement process last year, had created conditions for stronger engagement. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to advancing ties based on mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.

Xi echoed these sentiments, urging declared that the elephant and the dragon should come together. He framed India and China as ancient civilisations and major Global South players, urging them to act as good neighbours amid global transformation.

Xi went further, highlighting the importance of multipolarity and democracy in international relations, calling on both nations to uphold multilateralism and contribute to a more democratic global order.

He emphasised that India and China are at a critical stage of development and should view each other as partners in growth rather than rivals. He also argued that border disputes should not define the overall relationship.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs said both leaders reaffirmed their countries are development partners, not adversaries. The language reflected a cautious optimism, suggesting that even as challenges remain, both sides see value in pushing ties forward.

In a multipolar world

The parallel tracks of India’s diplomacy—engaging Russia and China within the SCO framework, while reinforcing bonds with the United States—illustrate New Delhi’s approach to a multipolar world order. India continues to place a premium on strategic autonomy, refusing to be boxed into rigid alignments.

The US Embassy’s X post, emphasising innovation, defence and people-to-people ties, reflects a possible rethinking in the Trump administration to broaden agenda of the partnership.

Meanwhile, Russia’s assurances of principled friendship and China’s overtures of neighbourly cooperation highlight India’s enduring relevance in Eurasian geopolitics. What emerges from these interactions is India’s central role as a bridge-builder. As one of the world’s largest economies and a leader in the Global South, India is increasingly critical in shaping dialogues across multiple blocs, from the Quad to the SCO.