A single photograph from the recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit has become the focal point of intense debate across US media. The image, showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin laughing and exchanging pleasantries, has been hailed as a symbol of a rapidly shifting global order, one that some are now calling a "new world order" dominated by Asia.
Captured in Tianjin, the photograph depicts three of the most powerful figures in the world today standing shoulder to shoulder, sending a clear message about the growing unity among countries that have faced increasing tensions with the United States.
The image, taken during the summit's final moments, has sparked significant commentary from US political analysts, with some expressing alarm over the growing influence of a multi-polar world and the decline of American dominance.
A moment of intense scrutinyUS political commentator Van Jones, speaking on CNN, did not mince words when analyzing the significance of the image. “That image of Xi Jinping with Putin, with Modi, with the leader of Iran, and the leader of North Korea, should send a chill down the spine of every American,” he said. Jones warned that the photograph marked a pivotal moment in global relations, suggesting that the traditional US-centric order was under threat.
“We’re going to look back on today historically as a very big deal,” Jones continued, adding that the formation of this grouping signified that "the West is now in a box." He argued that the US is now "on the bad end of the triangle" as global powers realign themselves, particularly those who have found themselves on the receiving end of US tariffs and foreign policy pressures.
Jones's reaction echoes a broader anxiety within the US media regarding the rise of non-Western powers, and the perceived collapse of traditional alliances that have long underpinned US influence. In the wake of the photograph's circulation, many commentators in Washington warned that this increasingly multipolar world could leave America increasingly isolated.
The "Axis of Upheaval"The timing of the summit, and the leaders’ visible camaraderie, has fueled concerns among US analysts about the formation of a bloc of countries that could challenge American dominance.
The Washington Post was quick to label the gathering as the first formal meeting of an "anti-American axis of upheaval," with the leaders of Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia at the helm. This grouping, the paper argued, represents a new coalition of powers that is actively resisting US influence in global affairs.
The New York Times also took note of the significance of the photograph, suggesting that the bond between Xi and Putin, both of whom have long been at odds with Washington, was now central to a broader challenge to the US-led world order.
The article highlighted that PM Modi’s presence underscored India’s growing diplomatic pivot toward these countries, even in the face of unresolved border disputes with China.
A 'Multipolar' world?As US media dissected the photograph, many commentators, including Jones, drew attention to what they saw as the emergence of a new “multipolar” world.
The idea of a multipolar world suggests a global order with multiple power centers, challenging the traditional dominance of the United States and its allies. At the SCO summit, President Xi emphasized the need for countries to reject Cold War thinking, warning against rival power blocs and bullying.
Xi's call for a more just and balanced global governance system struck a chord with those critical of US hegemony. The Chinese president's message resonated with many at the summit, who viewed it as a direct rebuke to the West's attempts to impose its values on other regions. “We need to reject the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak,” Xi stated, signaling a firm stance against what he and others see as Western coercion.
For many in the US, these remarks reinforced the notion that Washington’s influence was waning. The growing cooperation between China, Russia, and India, despite their differences, has been interpreted as a direct response to what they view as America's increasingly unilateral approach to global affairs.
Trump’s provocative responseThe US reaction to the SCO summit was not limited to political analysts and commentators. US President Donald Trump, never shy about expressing his views on global affairs, took to his social media platform Truth Social to comment on the summit's outcome. Trump’s post, which sarcastically wished President Xi and his counterparts a “great and lasting day of celebration,” reflected his deep concern about the growing solidarity between these leaders.
"Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America," Trump wrote, reflecting his view that the gathering represented a collective challenge to US interests.