A single image has sent shockwaves through the American political establishment. The photograph of India’s Modi, China’s Xi, and Russia’s Putin together at the SCO summit is being called a harbinger of a “new world order” that leaves the United States on the outside looking in. Political analyst Van Jones articulated this fear, stating the image should deeply trouble every American.
This powerful visual of the three leaders, deep in conversation and moving as a unit, has been widely interpreted as a symbol of a new anti-US axis. This demonstration of solidarity occurred as the US continues to pursue an aggressive tariff strategy, effectively alienating allies and adversaries alike. The summit thus became a platform for a united front against American economic pressure.
Jones described the situation as a complete reversal of the successful Cold War-era diplomacy that kept the US in a dominant position. He explained that while the US once leveraged its relationship with China to isolate Russia, the tables have now turned. “Now we are on the bad side of the triangle,” he warned, emphasizing a new reality where it’s “everybody against us.”
This sentiment underscores a dramatic redrawing of the geopolitical map. The term “multipolar world” is no longer a theoretical concept but a tangible reality, with this trio at its core. Jones’ commentary reflects a growing concern that America’s actions are inadvertently creating powerful coalitions that directly threaten its long-standing global influence.