Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping will join more than a dozen other leaders in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional bloc aiming to counterbalance Western influence. The SCO, celebrating its 25th anniversary, includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries, and Moscow-allied Belarus. The summit takes place amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Washington and Tehran.
Geopolitical Significance
The SCO summit is a critical platform for Russia and China to promote their vision of a multipolar world and present a united front against the West. Both Putin and Xi have used previous SCO summits to emphasize their anti-Western stance. This year's summit is particularly significant as it occurs four-and-a-half years into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and six months into the war between Washington and Tehran.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will represent his country at the summit, highlighting Tehran's efforts to navigate international isolation and economic sanctions. The SCO has increasingly focused on economic issues but has gained momentum under Moscow's and Beijing's leadership, expanding its influence and membership.
Economic and Strategic Alliances
The summit will see Putin holding bilateral talks with Pezeshkian and Xi, among other leaders. Russia and Iran have deepened their military and economic ties since the start of the Ukraine conflict, drawing warnings from US President Donald Trump against arming Iran. The CIA's director recently visited Moscow, sparking speculation about discussions on Ukraine and Iran.
The SCO, with its 10 members and 15 dialogue partners including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, claims to represent 40 percent of the world's population and 25 percent of global GDP. However, the bloc remains diverse, with internal disagreements and competition for influence, particularly in resource-rich Central Asia.
As some SCO members face real or trade wars, the summit will likely address these challenges. The US has imposed secondary sanctions on Iran's trading partners, aiming to cripple Tehran's economy. China, a major importer of Iranian oil, has vowed to defend its interests, while Iran insists it will not succumb to economic pressure.
