Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked on the symbolic representation of India-China ties as “Elephant-Dragon,” humorously suggesting Russia could be represented by the Siberian tiger instead of the traditional bear. This commentary came during the recent SCO summit, highlighting the strengthening cooperation among Russia, India, and China under the RIC format, which aims to enhance coordination on global issues. The evolving dynamics suggest a cooling of US-India relations amid concerns over their alignment with China, while India and Russia solidify their strategic engagements, indicating a shift towards a multipolar world order that diminishes Western dominance in favor of non-Western alliances.