Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Earlier, Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO members Tajikistan and Russia, and the newest member Belarus, on the sidelines of the two-day summit that began on Wednesday. ABOUT SCO The grouping came into existence in Shanghai in 2001. Its name comes from its origins in the “Shanghai Five”, formed in 1996 and consisting of:
  • China
  • Russia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan and
THE BACKGROUND With the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 into 15 independent countries, there were concerns in the region about extremist religious groups and ethnic tensions coming to the fore. To manage these issues, a grouping was created for Cooperation on security matters. Building on this, SCO was established on June 15, 2001, as an international organisation and also included Uzbekistan as a sixth member. PRESENT MEMBERSHIP With further expansions, it currently has 10 members:
  • Russia
  • Tajikistan
  • Uzbekistan
  • Kazakhstan Observer members:
  • China Afghanistan
  • Kyrgyzstan Mongolia.
  • Pakistan (2017)
  • India (2017)
  • Iran (2023).
  • Belarus (2024)
AIMS OF SCO The main objectives of the sco are as follows:
  • Strengthening mutual trust, friendship and neighborly relations among the member states;
  • Promoting effective cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural spheres as well as in the realm of educational, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas;
  • Jointly maintaining and safeguarding of peace, security and stability in the Region; and
  • Fostering creation of democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

SIGNIFICANCE OF SCO

  • SCO is one of the few international organisations which deal with security issues and primarily has Asian members.
  • Regional heavyweights Russia and China have stressed its position as an alternative to a “Western” international order.
  • Along with the BRICS grouping, which has India, South Africa and Brazil as well, Russia & China are seen positioning against US influence.
  • The Central Asian Republics (CAR) ie Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan & Tajikistan (Turkmenistan is also part of CAR but not of SCO) often considered as backyard of Russia are a major source of Oil & Natural Gas. These resources are vital for projects like BRI of China & overall Energy Security.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR INDIA

  • On one level, SCO membership allows India to participate in a forum which enhances its scope of cooperation with Central Asian countries, which have not had particularly close relations with India since their formation in 1991.
  • It also matters for maintaining communication with major actors in the Region on common security issues.
    • For example, an important permanent structure within the SCO is the Regional anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).
    • It assists members in the preparation and staging of counter-terrorism exercises, analyses key intelligence information coming in from the member states, and shares information on terrorist movements and drug trafficking.
CONCERNS IN BRI Bilateral issues remain unsolved:
  • India & China have unresolved border issues.
    • Last year, when the summit was under India’s leadership, it was hosted digitally. India refused to sign the paragraph which endorsed the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI)
  • India & Pakistan relationship have time & again been hampered by Cross Border Terrorism.
  • There are border conflicts between Russia & China as well.