The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will hold an online summit seeking to expand the influence of the Eurasian group by including Iran and opening a path to membership for Belarus. Leaders of China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan are set to participate in the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the current SCO chairperson, will host it.
The SCO is an intergovernmental security and economic bloc founded in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The organization has become one of the world’s most influential regional organizations and is a counterbalance against the rising power of NATO. Its members share concerns about terrorism, regional instability, and the spread of Islamist extremism.
Despite several disputes, the SCO remains committed to strengthening security and cooperation. Earlier this month, the member nations agreed on a draft declaration of principles on preventing the spread of terrorist acts and supporting law enforcement agencies. They also discussed the fight against drug trafficking, the use of information technologies, and cooperation in combating the financing of terrorism.
However, India’s decision to host a virtual summit has drawn criticism from some members. The move was announced shortly after the quashed mercenary mutiny rocked Moscow, and Russia’s relations with other Western nations are strained as the war in Ukraine drags on.
India’s foreign ministry said, “India respects the decision of its partners to make the SCO summit virtual, although Russia was preparing for its participation in person.” A Russian ambassador to Delhi brushed aside accusations of downgrading the significance of the organization.
Modi, tasked with steering the organization through his chairmanship, has adopted a ‘Towards a Secure SCO’ theme for the summit. The acronym stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; and Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity. He is expected to discuss India’s approach to regional security and ways of boosting cooperation.
The online meeting will be held just two weeks after the Indian prime minister’s state visit to the United States and his meeting with US President Joe Biden. During that visit, Modi stressed the importance of a strong partnership between India and the United States but also cautioned against getting entangled in geopolitical competitions.
The upcoming meeting will also mark the first time that Modi and Xi Jinping will share a virtual platform since they both attended last year’s SCO summit in Uzbekistan. Modi has also been stepping up engagement with Putin as he seeks to persuade him that the world has moved beyond the era of warfare. During a telephone conversation last week, the Indian leader conveyed this message to the Russian leader as they discussed the aftermath of the quashed mercenary revolt in Ukraine. This was the closest that Modi came to discussing the crisis directly with Putin. The pair will also meet in September when New Delhi hosts a G20 summit expected to draw leaders from SCO members.
