Despite their shared strategic interests and the optics of the new global order, China, India, and Russia continue to face significant obstacles in forging a truly unified front. Despite the declared neutrality, the role of China and India in enabling Russia’s sustained military aggression against Ukraine is well known. AdvertisementA closer alignment among China, Russia, and India remains fraught with challenges. However, a closer alignment among the SCO’s key members – China, Russia, and India – remains fraught with challenges. While China, India, and Russia project the image of a united front against Western hegemony, their strategic triangle is marked more by competition and mistrust than true alignment.