‘Elephant-Dragon’ was Xi’s phrase, ‘Bear’ came from media: Putin after Trump’s ‘lost India, Russia to China’ remark

In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) speaks with China's President Xi Jinping after a group photograph before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by Alexander KAZAKOV / POOL / AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered a colourful interpretation of the ties between Moscow, Beijing and New Delhi, reviving a popular metaphor while adding his own twist. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum 2025, Putin said the term “dragon and elephant dance” to describe relations between China and India was originally coined by Chinese President Xi Jinping, with Russia’s “bear” later added on by the media.

“Of course, ‘bear’ is a symbol of Russia but we are here- the Far East and the biggest tiger in the world is the local breed here,” he said, referring to the Amur or Siberian tiger. Putin also took a swipe at the United States’ symbol of a double-headed eagle, noting it “looks to the West and the East but there is also south, you know.”

Putin’s comments came as he discussed the future of the Russia-India-China (RIC) format, first proposed by Moscow in 1998 to strengthen coordination among the three countries on global issues.

The remarks coincided with a sharp reaction from Washington. US President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social account, “Looks like we’ve lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!”

Strategic realignments at SCO

Xi Jinping hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin earlier this week at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, a gathering that signalled closer coordination between New Delhi, Moscow and Beijing at a time when Donald Trump has imposed steep tariffs on India.

Trump has imposed a 25% reciprocal duty on Indian goods and an additional 25% levy tied to New Delhi’s continued purchases of discounted Russian oil. Together, the 50% tariff rate ranks among the highest in the world. The US President has repeatedly accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” through energy imports, even as Washington has avoided imposing direct sanctions on Moscow.