Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to China, emphasizing its role in strengthening India's ties with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and showcasing India's diplomatic capabilities. Singh highlighted the visit as a testament to India's ability to reshape and rebalance geopolitical realities.

PM Modi attended the 25th SCO Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, engaging in bilateral meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He described the engagements as productive, noting that he emphasized India's position on key global issues.

During the SCO Summit, discussions focused on the SCO Development Strategy, reforms to global governance, counter-terrorism efforts, peace and security, economic and financial cooperation, and sustainable development. PM Modi stressed the need for greater action against terror financing and radicalization, referencing the Pahalgam terror attack and urging the SCO to hold accountable countries that perpetrate or support cross-border terrorism. He also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on assuming the SCO presidency.

In his meeting with President Putin, PM Modi affirmed that cooperation between New Delhi and Moscow is vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity.

Rajnath Singh's remarks are viewed as a strong endorsement of PM Modi's diplomatic efforts. He asserted that India would always prioritize its national interests, echoing his previous statement that in international relations, "there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests". This stance underlines the pragmatic approach India adopts in its global diplomacy, pursuing dialogue while safeguarding its core national interests.

The Defence Minister's statement can also be seen as a response to critics, including those from the Congress party, who questioned the timing and optics of PM Modi's engagement with President Xi Jinping. By emphasizing India's diplomatic skill and geopolitical balancing, Singh's statement refutes any narrative that portrays the visit as a sign of weakness, instead framing it as a demonstration of strategic maturity.

BJP sources highlighted the condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack in the SCO's joint statement, despite Pakistan's presence. They also noted PM Modi's reminder to the SCO about India's consistent opposition to "double standards" on terrorism. A few months prior, Rajnath Singh had refused to sign a joint statement at an SCO defense ministers' meeting that did not condemn the Pahalgam attack.