The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, brings together leaders from China, Russia, and India, among other member states, as a platform purportedly aimed at countering U.S. global influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to attend, with multiple bilateral meetings planned on the sidelines, including a Putin-Xi meeting on Monday and Putin’s talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday [1-4].

Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian states, the SCO has expanded to include ten member nations and several “dialogue partners.” China and Russia have positioned the SCO as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations like the G7, seeking to broaden its scope and influence while offering development and financial assistance [5-7]. For member states, the summit serves as an opportunity to demonstrate maintained global ties despite strained relations with the West. However, analysts note that the organization lacks unified political or military cohesion, with significant disagreements and distinct interests among members [8-10]. For India, the summit is more about strategic signaling and optics than substantive outcomes, given the forum’s China-influenced agenda and the presence of rival Pakistan as a member [11-13]. Turkey, holding partner status, also aims to leverage the platform to strengthen its regional position while balancing ties with the West as a NATO member [14-16].

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