Sri Lanka’s decision to skip the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin has sparked debate, as India’s Narendra Modi and Russia’s Vladimir Putin joined China’s Xi Jinping in a landmark show of global realignment.
Sri Lanka has declined an invitation from China to attend the SCO summit in Tianjin, reportedly under pressure from an undisclosed foreign mission. The move comes despite heavy lobbying by the Chinese embassy in Colombo and the Sri Lankan embassy in Beijing, which urged Colombo to join what many described as one of the most significant SCO summits in years.
Sources suggest that Colombo remained silent and noncommittal during the discussions, eventually opting to stay away. Regional observers, including Taliban-linked media outlets, claimed that China even offered assistance before and after the summit to encourage Sri Lanka’s participation.
Analysts argue that Sri Lanka’s refusal reflects its broader geopolitical balancing act and desire to maintain neutrality amid intensifying global rivalries. The absence signals Colombo’s caution in aligning too closely with any major power bloc, particularly at a summit where economic and security strategies dominated.
While Sri Lanka stayed away, the Tianjin summit showcased the presence of heavyweight leaders. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended China for the first time in seven years, signaling a thaw in strained India–China relations. Modi held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on resuming direct flights, easing visa restrictions, boosting trade, and improving border stability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also joined the summit, underlining Moscow’s deepening partnership with both China and India. Together, leaders emphasized multilateralism, economic cooperation, and the SCO’s position as a counterbalance to Western-led global institutions. Chinese media highlighted Xi’s proposal for a new SCO development bank and fresh commitments to infrastructure investment, aimed at expanding Beijing’s influence across the Global South.
The Tianjin gathering, attended by over 20 world leaders, coincided with a grand Victory Day military parade in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Analysts interpreted the convergence of Modi, Xi, and Putin as a symbolic assertion of a multipolar world order, even as national interests continue to diverge.
Discussions covered energy security, trade facilitation, regional connectivity, and technology cooperation, reflecting the SCO’s expanding role beyond its original security mandate. Although Sri Lanka’s absence drew media attention, the summit underscored the strengthening alignment among China, Russia, and India, as the SCO shapes new geopolitical and economic frameworks across Asia and beyond.
