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‘Everyone against us, not good for US’: American commentator's ‘new world order’ warning on Modi-Xi-Putin image

Van Jones called the SCO meeting a "historically big deal", adding that Modi-Xi-Putin image should "send a chill down the spine of every American".

Updated on: Sep 4, 2025, 21:06:13 IST
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When world leaders gathered in China's Tianjin for the SCO summit, it was a clear message of defiance against US President Donald Trump's tariffs. What especially caught attention was the powerful display of bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, China President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China.  SUO TAKEKUMA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo (via REUTERS)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre in Tianjin, China. SUO TAKEKUMA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo (via REUTERS)

The three of the world’s most powerful leaders sharing the stage, without Washington in frame, drew world’s gaze, including that of the West.

The Modi-Xi-Putin trio – walking together, engaging in pointed exchanges and carpooling – has not gone unnoticed in the US media, with American political commentator Van Jones calling it a "sign of a new world order," which is "not good for the US".

Referring to the meeting of the three world leader, Jones called it a "historically big deal", adding that the image of Xi Jinping with Putin and Modi should "send a chill down the spine of every American".

"We're going to look back on today historically as a very big deal. Because that image of Xi Jinping with Putin, with Modi from India, with the leader of Iran, with the leader of North Korea, that should send a chill down the spine of every American," he told CNN.

The SCO gathering in Tianjin came at a crucial juncture as US President Donald Trump-led administration continued to double down on tariffs. Days after the US tariffs came into effect, three of the world’s most powerful leaders shared the spotlight, without Washington in frame, in a big diplomatic statement by the countries.

The US political analyst suggested that the US "is in a box", where the country is left on the bad side of a triangle.

"That is a new world order. They call it a multipolar world. I call it the West is now in a box... Everyone doesn't like Henry Kissinger. But he did figure out a way to get us on the right side of the triangle. So, it was US and China together and Russia by itself," Jones said.

"Now we are on the bad in the triangle. It's everybody against us. That's not good for America, that's not good for us," he added.

Pointing to a combined photo of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the American commentator called it "a feather in Putin's cap".

"It is a dagger point at the heart of the West," he added, referring to the photo, which many observers have called a dramatic redrawing of the global balance of power.

Xi, Putin and the North Korean leader led a group of more than 20 world leaders in Tiananmen Square during China's “victory day” parade on Wednesday.

  • Majid Alam
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Majid Alam

    Majid Alam is a Chief Content Producer working at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi. He currently heads shifts at online desk and manages homepage apart from writing, editing and curating articles. With over six years of experience in journalism, Majid has navigated national, politics and international news. His work primarily focuses on the politics of the Hindi heartland, government policies, and South Asia. He also writes on US and Europe’s policies vis-à-vis India. Before joining Hindustan Times, Majid worked at ABP LIVE as the Chief Copy Editor and at News18, where he managed the World and Explainers sections. His articles have featured in Dialogue Earth, The Quint, BMJ, The Diplomat, and Outlook India. Majid has a keen interest in the use of data for storytelling. Majid holds a Masters in Convergent Journalism from Jamia Millia Islamia. He was awarded the Erasmus+ scholarship to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris in 2020. He is also part of the OCEANS Network, an alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars. He is currently serving as the National Representative (India) at the OCEANS Network. Apart from journalism, Majid has a flair for academic writing and loves to teach. He has published a book chapter: 'Bombay Cinema and Postmodernism' in the book: 'Handbook of Research on Social and Cultural Dynamics in Indian Cinema.' He was also part of the OCEANS Network delegation to Hanoi National University of Education in Vietnam in 2025. He has also given guest lecture in digital journalism at AJK MCRC, Jamia Millia Islamia.Read More

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