At the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit held in Tianjin, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a nuanced address highlighting India’s strategic outlook on regional connectivity, development, security, and multilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister underscored the principle that connectivity initiatives must respect national sovereignty, subtly critiquing China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) while emphasizing that infrastructure and trade networks imposed unilaterally risk eroding trust, credibility, and meaningful cooperation among nations. He presented India’s own initiatives, such as the Chabahar Port in Iran and the International North-South Transport Corridor, as models of principled, consent-based engagement, illustrating a comprehensive approach to Eurasian and regional connectivity. Through his address, PM Modi articulated a vision of sustainable development, security, and opportunity that integrates economic, cultural, and people-to-people collaboration while maintaining the sovereignty and interests of participating nations. His speech also reinforced India’s commitment to multilateralism, regional stability, and proactive participation in shaping a rules-based, inclusive, and forward-looking Eurasian order.
Connectivity Must Respect Sovereignty and Build Trust
In his address, Prime Minister Modi focused on the importance of sovereignty in infrastructure and connectivity initiatives, noting that projects bypassing the consent of affected nations risk losing both legitimacy and trust. While refraining from directly naming China, he made clear references to the challenges posed by unilateral projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. India has consistently objected to such initiatives, citing concerns over territorial sovereignty, long-term strategic influence, and regional security implications. PM Modi emphasized that while connectivity is essential for trade, economic growth, and regional integration, it cannot be used as a tool to circumvent the legal and sovereign rights of nations.
The Prime Minister contrasted India’s approach to connectivity with these unilateral projects by highlighting examples such as the Chabahar Port, which facilitates trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia with full consent of the nations involved, and the International North-South Transport Corridor, a multi-modal initiative designed to enhance regional integration and economic collaboration. By advocating for connectivity projects that are mutually agreed upon, PM Modi positioned India as a country that prioritizes trust, fairness, and long-term partnerships in its foreign policy framework. The Prime Minister stressed that connectivity, while a vehicle for economic growth, must be underpinned by principles of respect, equity, and adherence to international norms to create sustainable benefits for all participants.
PM Modi also underscored the crucial role of the SCO in fostering regional dialogue and cooperation over the past 24 years. He highlighted that India’s active participation in the organisation has strengthened regional trade, security, and connectivity efforts, and that the SCO provides an ideal platform for multilateral engagement. By emphasizing the principles of security, connectivity, and opportunity as the three pillars of India’s SCO policy, he illustrated how principled leadership can guide Eurasian nations toward inclusive and sustainable growth. The Prime Minister articulated that sovereignty and trust are essential components for any development initiative, reflecting India’s commitment to shaping a framework of collaboration that balances national interests with regional progress.
Security, Connectivity, and Opportunity: India’s Three Pillars at SCO
The Prime Minister elaborated on the first pillar, security, noting that peace, stability, and counter-terrorism cooperation form the foundation of development. PM Modi highlighted India’s active role in combating terrorism, including its leadership in Joint Information Operations targeting Al-Qaeda and associated organizations, and initiatives aimed at enhancing coordination against radicalization and terror financing. He recalled the long history of terrorism India has faced over four decades, referencing tragic incidents such as the Pahalgam attack, and expressed gratitude to nations that stood with India in times of crisis. PM Modi emphasized that security challenges transcend national borders and require multilateral cooperation, making forums like the SCO indispensable for coordinated action.
The second pillar, connectivity, was described as essential for trade, economic growth, and people-to-people ties, but only when executed with respect for sovereignty. The Prime Minister highlighted India’s initiatives to expand transport corridors, trade hubs, and development projects linking the country to Central Asia, Afghanistan, and other neighboring regions. By prioritizing consent, collaboration, and sustainable development, India’s model of connectivity stands in contrast to projects that impose unilateral control over resources or bypass sovereign consent. This approach ensures that infrastructure investments create mutual trust, strengthen regional economic integration, and promote long-term cooperation while respecting the political and cultural contexts of participating nations.
The third pillar, opportunity, encompasses India’s vision for inclusive development and multilateral engagement beyond conventional government-to-government relations. PM Modi highlighted initiatives introduced during India’s SCO chairmanship in 2023, including promotion of start-ups, innovation, traditional medicine, youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and shared cultural heritage, including Buddhist history. He proposed establishing a Civilisational Dialogue Forum under the SCO to promote exchange of art, literature, traditions, and values across member states. This initiative, he explained, would deepen people-to-people ties, encourage cross-cultural understanding, and ensure that the SCO fosters not only economic and security cooperation but also regional solidarity and collective growth.
The Prime Minister also stressed the evolving nature of the SCO in addressing contemporary challenges such as organized crime, drug trafficking, and cybersecurity. India has advocated the establishment of four new centres under the SCO to tackle these issues, reflecting a forward-looking, reform-oriented mindset. Additionally, PM Modi suggested that SCO members enhance cooperation to reform global institutions and collectively advocate for changes in the United Nations to better represent the aspirations of the Global South. Through this approach, India demonstrates its commitment to inclusive, transparent, and equitable multilateral governance.
Throughout the speech, PM Modi balanced critique with constructive engagement, emphasizing that connectivity without respect for sovereignty is inherently flawed, and proposing India’s model as a framework for principled development. By integrating security, connectivity, and opportunity, he presented a comprehensive vision for a stable, prosperous, and interconnected Eurasia where partnerships are built on fairness, mutual respect, and shared benefits. The Prime Minister reinforced the idea that sustainable regional development requires adherence to international norms, respect for sovereignty, and transparent, consent-based collaboration between nations.
PM Modi’s address further reinforced India’s positioning as a responsible, principled actor in regional and global affairs. By highlighting India’s infrastructure initiatives alongside a clear stance on sovereignty, he communicated that development must align with long-term trust and equitable collaboration. He contrasted India’s model with projects that bypass consent, underlining the necessity of mutual agreement and respect for territorial integrity in all connectivity projects. India’s vision, as articulated at the SCO Summit, integrates economic growth, cultural exchange, and strategic partnership while maintaining sovereignty, security, and long-term stability as guiding principles.
The Prime Minister also addressed the role of opportunity in India’s SCO policy, emphasizing inclusive development that benefits citizens across all member nations. Through programs focused on innovation, digital inclusion, youth engagement, and cultural exchange, India seeks to ensure that connectivity projects create meaningful opportunities beyond infrastructure, fostering human capital development and stronger regional ties. The Civilisational Dialogue Forum, as proposed by PM Modi, aims to promote shared cultural heritage, encourage mutual understanding, and enhance people-to-people relationships, which form the backbone of long-term regional cooperation.
PM Modi concluded his address by reiterating that the principles of Reform, Perform, and Transform guide India’s approach in Eurasia and globally. By advocating for a collaborative, principled, and inclusive model of development, India positions itself as a leader in promoting sovereignty-respecting connectivity, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable regional growth. The speech presented India’s three-pillar policy as a roadmap for balanced, long-term engagement that integrates economic, security, and cultural considerations, ensuring that partnerships are equitable, resilient, and aligned with shared aspirations of Eurasian nations.
By highlighting the importance of sovereignty, transparency, and consent in regional connectivity, PM Modi established India’s model as a benchmark for principled infrastructure development. His address emphasized that long-term prosperity, stability, and trust can only be achieved through respect for national autonomy, constructive engagement, and shared responsibility. India’s vision, as articulated at the SCO Summit, merges strategy, diplomacy, and practical action to create a cooperative regional order that respects sovereignty, promotes security, encourages economic growth, and deepens cultural ties across Eurasia.
PM Modi’s address at the SCO Summit, through the three pillars of security, connectivity, and opportunity, underscored India’s commitment to principled engagement, multilateralism, and inclusive regional development. It reinforced the idea that enduring peace and prosperity in the region depend on collaborative, sovereignty-respecting frameworks where economic, cultural, and security initiatives are mutually reinforcing. India’s model emphasizes transparent, consent-based partnerships, and demonstrates that regional growth and connectivity can be achieved without compromising sovereignty, trust, or stability.
Through this address, India presented a strategic blueprint for Eurasian engagement that combines economic development, security cooperation, and cultural collaboration. By asserting that connectivity must respect sovereignty, PM Modi positioned India as a leader in promoting principled multilateralism and sustainable development. The speech underscored the necessity of trust, collaboration, and mutual respect as foundational elements for long-term regional growth, and highlighted India’s vision of inclusive prosperity, security, and opportunity for all nations engaged in the Eurasian and Global South frameworks.
This articulation of India’s SCO policy showcased the country’s ability to balance national priorities with regional and global cooperation, demonstrating leadership in building a rules-based, inclusive, and forward-looking Eurasian order. Through a careful combination of strategic critique, constructive proposals, and emphasis on sovereignty and trust, PM Modi presented India as a principled actor advocating for inclusive, sustainable, and transparent regional connectivity and cooperation.
