A New Economic Gravity: Putin Pulls SCO into Sino-Russian Orbit

President Vladimir Putin is attempting to create a new center of economic gravity, using the powerful Sino-Russian partnership to pull the rest of the SCO into its orbit. His pre-summit remarks were an invitation for member states to align with this dynamic and rapidly growing economic axis.
He laid out the compelling core of this new center: a trade relationship that has surged by $100 billion, a commitment to breaking down internal trade barriers, and a shared focus on massive infrastructure investment. This offers a tangible promise of growth and development for participating nations.
Crucially, this economic orbit is designed to be self-contained and sovereign. By conducting trade in national currencies, it offers protection from the “discriminatory sanctions” and financial volatility of the Western system. It is a pitch for both prosperity and security.
The SCO summit is where Putin will exert this gravitational pull most strongly. By demonstrating the undeniable success and momentum of the Russia-China economic engine, he will make a powerful case for other member states to deepen their integration and collectively shift the world’s economic balance eastward.