On September 1, 2025, as the world’s eyes fixed on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin, China, an unexpected scene unfolded not in a gilded conference hall, but inside the plush leather interior of a Russian-made Aurus limousine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both in China for the summit, shared an unusually lengthy and candid car ride—one that would become a microcosm of the shifting, sometimes contradictory, alliances shaping global politics today.
According to TASS, Putin personally briefed Modi on his recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska, a discussion dominated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its global repercussions. "This is no secret. I told him what we talked about in Alaska," Putin confirmed to reporters, as cited by TASS. The two leaders’ conversation, which began as they drove to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Tianjin, spilled over for nearly an hour, even after their delegations had exited the vehicle. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later remarked, as quoted by the Hindustan Times, that the car provided a sense of ‘home walls’—a private cocoon where the leaders could speak freely and comfortably.
Prime Minister Modi, for his part, was quick to share the moment on social media, posting a photo of himself with Putin inside the limousine. “After the proceedings at the SCO Summit venue, President Putin and I travelled together to the venue of our bilateral meeting. Conversations with him are always insightful,” Modi wrote on X. Later, he described their meeting as “excellent,” highlighting discussions on deepening cooperation in trade, fertilizers, space, security, and culture, as well as the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict. “Our Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership remains a vital pillar of regional and global stability,” Modi added, reaffirming the strength of the India-Russia relationship, even in turbulent times.
While the world’s focus was on these high-level talks, another chapter in India’s complex diplomatic balancing act was playing out thousands of miles away in Fairbanks, Alaska. There, from September 1 to September 14, Indian and U.S. soldiers were participating in the 18th iteration of the Yudh Abhyas military exercise at Fort Wainwright. The name, which translates to “preparing for war,” perhaps felt a touch ironic given the fraying ties between Washington and New Delhi in the wake of new U.S. tariffs.
The exercise brought together 25 U.S. Army soldiers and a comparable contingent from the Indian Army. According to the U.S. Army, the goal was to “enhance interoperability, readiness, and cooperation between the two nations’ land forces.” Alaska’s strategic location, near key Arctic and Indo-Pacific air and sea corridors, provided an ideal setting for cold-weather training. “Together, we sharpen our skills for peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and combat operations because we know that the challenges of the future will demand cooperation across borders,” said Col. Christopher Brawley, one of the U.S. commanders involved in Yudh Abhyas, as reported by KTUU.
Yet, the timing of the exercise could not have been more awkward. At the end of August, President Trump doubled tariffs on Indian imports to 50%, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil—a move the White House said threatened a peace deal with Ukraine. “The Russian Federation’s actions in Ukraine pose an ongoing threat to U.S. national security and foreign policy, necessitating stronger measures to address the national emergency,” the White House stated in its August 6 order, as reported by KTUU. Trump was blunt in his criticism, accusing India of helping fund Russia’s war effort and, in a social media post, even suggested that the Tianjin gathering of Modi, Putin, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un was a “gathering to plot against the U.S.”
Observers were quick to note the diplomatic strain. Ashley Tellis, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, told Reuters that Trump’s actions marked the beginning of a “downward spiral” in U.S.-India relations. “The problem now is Trump’s deepening grievances against India. He may change his mind down the road, but presently the imperative of securing a trade deal with China trumps all other geopolitical considerations,” Tellis said.
Despite the public friction, some U.S. officials emphasized the enduring value of defense cooperation. Representative Nick Begich of Alaska welcomed the Yudh Abhyas exercise, stating, “Defense partnerships strengthen our allied relationships and help us build new ones. We welcome Yudh Abhyas 2025 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, enhancing interoperability and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Exercises like these reinforce our commitment to international security and highlight the growing recognition of the importance of the Arctic.”
The shadow of the Russia-Ukraine war loomed large over all these developments. During his conversation with Modi, Putin reportedly discussed not only his meeting with Trump but also the prospects for peace in Ukraine. According to Al Jazeera, Putin told Trump he was open to a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting, “Yes, it’s possible, let Zelenskyy come to Moscow.” Trump was scheduled to speak with Zelenskyy again on September 4, their second meeting in recent weeks.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., underscored the stakes: “The first one is security guarantees, and we are very happy with [the] president that all the leaders are here and the security in Ukraine depends on the United States and on [Trump]. This is very important that the United States gives such strong signal and is ready for security guarantees.”
Meanwhile, the violence in Ukraine showed no signs of abating. On August 28, a missile and drone attack killed 23 Ukrainians, including four children, and injured 45, as reported by The New York Times. The ongoing bloodshed only heightened the urgency of the diplomatic efforts swirling across continents.
Against this backdrop, Modi and Putin’s extended conversation in a limousine, the joint military drills in Alaska, and the volley of tariffs and accusations between Washington and New Delhi all reflect the tangled web of alliances and rivalries shaping the world in 2025. For India, the balancing act between deepening its “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership” with Russia, maintaining crucial defense ties with the United States, and managing its energy needs and global standing is more delicate—and more visible—than ever.
As the motorcade doors finally opened in Tianjin and the delegations rejoined their leaders, the world was left to wonder: in this era of shifting allegiances and open confrontations, can old friendships and new partnerships truly coexist? For now, at least, the answer seems to be unfolding one candid conversation—and one military exercise—at a time.