Trump's Erratic Behaviour Hastening Multipolar World

Beijing clearly sees Trump's character and unpredictable behaviour as an opportunity. China is telling the world that unlike the United States, 'if we say we're going to do something, we stay committed to it.'

- JOHN DOBSON

The smiles on the faces and the grasping of hands said it all. Even President Xi Jinping, not known for his social exuberance, was observed giving a cautious grin. When the leaders of China, India, Russia and more than 20 other countries met in Tianjin last week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, the optics marked another milestone away from the US-led global order. This Eurasian political and security gathering was in part designed to cement Beijing's clout and champion its vision of a "multipolar world order".

But the sight of Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi holding hands and pledging cooperation also sent a clear message to President Donald Trump. Observers were quick to notice. "How the hell did Trump so alienate Modi that he's now attending a summit with autocrats, Xi and Putin?" wrote the former US Ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, on X. "Just last year China and India were at war with each other!" he added.

The simple answer, of course, is Trump's trade war, which inevitably brought former foes together. Recently, Trump slapped 50% tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. Putin, meanwhile, is facing fresh Western sanctions tied to his ongoing war in Ukraine. "United we stand", as the old saying goes. Or was it a case of "My enemy's enemy is my friend?" Whatever the answer, both Xi and Modi appear to be seeking a reset in a relationship long strained by mistrust and unresolved border disputes.

As two of the world's most populous countries, the rapport between India and China has profound implications not just for Asia, but for global peace, power dynamics, and order. The relationship is also crucial as the world moves into a multipolar phase.