The 26th SCO Summit (Shanghai Corporation Organization) is underway in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a side meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezheskian and Russian President Vladimir Putin there. Modi spoke to the heads of state of the two countries on several important issues including peace, security, economic cooperation in the Middle East. The meeting with Iran and Russia is effectively a message to the US to build a 'Third Axis' power, say experts.
Modi held a bilateral meeting with the Iranian president for the first time since the war started on February 28. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the two sides reviewed the latest situation in bilateral relations during the meeting. Modi and Pezheskian emphasized on strengthening joint cooperation between Iran and India in various fields involving mutual interests. Iranian Foreign Minister Syed Abbas Araqchi and other top officials were also present at the high profile meeting. A number of issues including peace, security and economic cooperation in the Middle East were reportedly discussed.
The Modi-Pegeskian meeting comes at a time when the geopolitical situation in the Middle East is in turmoil due to the US-Iran conflict. Trade relations between Iran and India are very strong. India is one of the top ten trading partners of Iran. However, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the war and the US sanctions on Tehran have disrupted the economic activities of the two countries. In this situation, the meeting of the Indian Prime Minister with the US 'enemy' Iran is significant.
According to sources, Modi also held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the SCO Summit. There was also talk about the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the blockaded Hormuz and the economic crisis. It is believed that this Russia-Iran-India meeting is sending a message of 'third axis power' against Trump's reckless tariffs and war policy. While China is against the US axis, India is against their encroachment in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, the conflict with Beijing over Arunachal border continues. In this situation, Iran-India-Russia alliance is due to mutual interests. Experts believe that even if Pakistan tries to pull Iran into NATO, it will not succeed.