Leaders of China, Russia, and India convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, an event presented as a platform to bolster non-Western alliances and challenge U.S. global influence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the heads of state participating in the summit. Putin and Xi held bilateral discussions on the sidelines, with Russian state media reporting Moscow's willingness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent. Talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were also scheduled for Tuesday.
For Russia, which is over four years into its invasion of Ukraine, and Iran, six months into conflict with the United States and Israel, the summit serves as a significant opportunity to strengthen ties with partners outside of Western blocs. The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian nations as a security forum, has expanded to include 10 member states: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Numerous other countries hold "dialogue partner" status.
China and Russia have promoted the SCO as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations like the G7, with Beijing advocating for an expanded scope and influence within the group, accompanied by pledges of development and financial assistance. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the organization has successfully "explored a new path for regional cooperation," aligning with Beijing's promotion of an alternative world order supported by Russia.
The summit offers SCO members a chance to demonstrate continued strong global relationships despite strained ties with the West. However, analysts note that the organization lacks political or military unity, with members harboring significant disagreements and pursuing distinct national interests. Experts suggest that for countries like India, the summit's value may lie more in its symbolic importance and strategic signaling rather than concrete outcomes, given that China and rival Pakistan are also members.
Dinakar Peri, a fellow in security studies at Carnegie India, commented that the SCO provides India a platform to engage in a region increasingly influenced by major power competition, enabling New Delhi to protect its interests, monitor geopolitical shifts, and project itself as a reliable stakeholder. Peri stated that while India may not shape the agenda, the forum offers a direct view of the region and allows for hedging its international positions.
Turkey, a dialogue partner in the SCO since 2012, also aims to leverage the platform to enhance its regional standing. The country views its SCO engagement as part of a balanced foreign policy that maintains traditional ties with NATO and the West while seeking to increase its influence in Eurasia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed a desire for permanent membership, despite the stalled EU membership bid for over 25 years, even as Turkey maintains close trade relations with the EU.