Explore India’s evolving place on the global chessboard as HT’s Executive Editor Shishir Gupta unpacks rumors, diplomatic complexities, and strategic shifts ahead of the SCO summit. From disputed reports about President Trump’s calls to PM Modi, to China’s alleged ‘secret letter’ sparking a reset, the conversation probes behind-the-scenes power plays, India’s nuanced response to US tariffs, and its careful diplomatic dance with Beijing. With US pressure mounting over trade and Russian oil, Gupta analyzes India’s “national interest first” approach, the reality of orchestrated media campaigns, and how Prime Minister Modi’s measured style changes the game. Why is India strengthening ties with China and Russia while balancing its US partnership? What’s truly at stake at the SCO summit—and how is India’s foreign policy being misread by global players?