Finnish President Alexander Stubb has warned that the West, particularly the United States, could “lose the game” to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) if it fails to reshape its foreign policy towards the Global South. His remarks come days after a major SCO summit in Tianjin, China, which brought together key world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Stubb’s Warning to Western Allies

Speaking after the summit, Stubb urged Western nations to act with greater unity and respect in their approach to countries like India.
“My message to you, my European colleagues, and particularly to the US, is that if we don’t engage in a more cohesive and dignified foreign policy, especially with regard to Global South countries such as India, we will lose,” Stubb said.

He emphasized that the SCO is becoming a powerful force in shaping global dynamics.“I think this meeting in China is a good reminder to the Global West of what is at stake. We are trying to preserve the remnants of the old order,” he added.

According to Stubb, the SCO is actively seeking to “weaken Western unity” as it expands its reach. This year’s summit was the largest in the group’s history, with 10 member nations and 20 invited leaders, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

During the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged member states to “safeguard regional peace and stability” and to “pool the strength of the Global South” to counterbalance Western influence.

Tensions Between Washington and New Delhi

Stubb’s warning comes at a time of growing tension between the United States and India. The friction escalated after US President Donald Trump imposed a combined 50 percent tariff on Indian goods. He accused India of undermining efforts to isolate Russia by continuing to purchase discounted Russian crude oil amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Trump sharply criticized the trade relationship, calling it deeply unbalanced.
“What few people understand is that we do very little business with India, but they do a tremendous amount of business with us… In other words, they sell us massive amounts of goods, their biggest ‘client,’ but we sell them very little — a totally one-sided relationship and it has been for many decades,” Trump said.

This move has strained ties between Washington and New Delhi, potentially pushing India to deepen its engagement with other global players like Russia and China through platforms such as the SCO.

Stubb’s Diplomatic Outreach

Despite the rising tensions, Stubb has maintained open communication with both sides. He reportedly shares a personal rapport with Trump, built during a marathon seven-hour golf session at the US president’s Florida resort earlier this year.

Last week, Stubb held a call with PM Modi to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and brief him on consultations held in Washington among US, European, and Ukrainian leaders.

Through these efforts, Stubb appears to be positioning Finland as a mediator while warning Western allies that their current approach may be pushing influential Global South nations closer to the SCO’s sphere of influence.