Shanghai cooperation summit in Beijing: How Europe can leverage tensions between India, Trump

The author of the Resurgam channel, an expert in foreign affairs, explains that the real impact goes far beyond the media’s emotional snapshots.

Modi and India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the image of a “father of the nation”: his party enjoyed overwhelming support in the last parliamentary elections. So he can’t — and won’t — appear weak.

India does depend on trade with the U.S.: exports to the U.S. are around $88 billion, imports about $41 billion. But Modi can’t simply “give in without a fight,” the author stresses, adding that his approach at the summit is a controlled push: delaying trade talks and putting on a show for the U.S.

Could India realistically team up with China?

According to the expert, a genuine alliance between the two regional giants would mean a strategic loss for India in many areas. Chinese and Indian diplomacy are competing for influence in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Cambodia, and beyond. India has been part of BRICS for years — yet there’s never been real partnership with China. The SCO summit is largely symbolic, not a real collaboration.

A win for Europe and Ukraine

The summit indirectly strengthens Europe’s position. If the U.S. had rushed into trade concessions with India, it would have sent a strong political signal. Modi’s strategic moves have clearly annoyed Donald Trump, who reacts emotionally to India’s actions but cannot risk losing to India in trade or international influence.

This creates an opportunity for Europe: by positioning itself as a partner in pressuring India, the EU can negotiate leverage, potentially tying cooperation with India to a stronger, direct push on Russia. Trump can’t afford to lose face with India, so European engagement becomes crucial — it’s a chance to hit two targets at once: pressure on India and coordinated action against Moscow, the author concludes.