India has refused to sign a joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China. 2025.
India is not satisfied with the language of the joint document and there was no mention of cross-border terrorist activities specially recent Pahalgam Terror attack.The refusal to endorse the document resulted in the conclave ending without a joint communique.
What is SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental political, economic, and security alliance that plays a crucial role in shaping regional and global dynamics. It was founded in 2001 and has emerged as a powerful grouping in the Eurasian region. What is the SCO?
The SCO was formed in Shanghai, China, in June 2001. Initially, it started as the Shanghai Five in 1996 comprising China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. With Uzbekistan joining in 2001, it was renamed the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Over time, SCO has expanded to include India and Pakistan (2017) and Iran (2022).
Members of SCO
- Full Members (9): China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
- Observer States (3): Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia.
- Dialogue Partners (9): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.
Objectives of the SCO
- Strengthening mutual trust and good neighborliness.
- Promoting cooperation in political, economic, cultural, scientific and technical fields.
- Enhancing security and stability in the region.
- Creating a fair, democratic, and rational international political and economic order.
Key Term: “Shanghai Spirit” – Core value of SCO emphasizing mutual trust, respect for cultural diversity, and common development.
Structure and Organizational Framework
- Strengthening mutual trust and good neighborliness.
- Promoting cooperation in political, economic, cultural, scientific and technical fields.
- Enhancing security and stability in the region.
- Creating a fair, democratic, and rational international political and economic order.
Key Term: “Shanghai Spirit” – Core value of SCO emphasizing mutual trust, respect for cultural diversity, and common development.
SCO Summits (Heads of State) Held annually, these summits bring together top leadership to discuss cooperation and emerging global issues.
Some notable summits:
- 2001: Shanghai – SCO founded
- 2017: Astana – India & Pakistan become full members
- 2022: Samarkand – Iran added as full member
- 2023: Goa, India hosted the Summit
- 2024: Astana, kazakhstan
- 2025: Tianjin, China
Importance of SCO for India
- Security Cooperation: Helps India counter terrorism through RATS and regional collaboration.
- Economic Access: Platform for enhancing trade, energy cooperation, and connectivity with Central Asia.
- Connectivity Projects: Supports India’s vision of integrating with Eurasia (e.g., Chabahar Port, INSTC).
- Multilateral Diplomacy: A venue to engage with China and Pakistan.
- Strategic Influence: Reinforces India’s presence in the Eurasian region.
Challenges for India in the SCO
- Presence of Pakistan: Hinders effective consensus and cooperation.
- China Factor: Managing relations with China while engaging in multilateral cooperation.
- Low Economic Engagement: Compared to China, India’s trade with SCO nations is low.
- Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): India opposes BRI, unlike other SCO members.
- Strategic Autonomy: Balancing between Western alliances (like Quad) and SCO commitments.
How Can India Play a More Effective Role?
- Promote trade in national currencies to avoid dollar dependency.
- Push for counter-terrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing.
- Deepen ties with Central Asian nations bilaterally and multilaterally.
- Use SCO to promote cultural diplomacy and tourism.
- Focus on dialogue-based conflict resolution over confrontation.
SCO vs Other Groupings
- SCO vs QUAD: SCO focuses more on Eurasia and security cooperation while QUAD is Indo-Pacific-centric.
- SCO vs NATO: SCO is non-aligned, doesn’t mandate collective military action, unlike NATO.
Significance of SCO in Global Politics
- Covers 40% of world population.
- Nearly 20% of global GDP.
- Includes major energy producers and consumers.
- Offers a counterbalance to Western alliances.
- Facilitates South-South cooperation and multi-polar world order.
Conclusion
The SCO is much more than a security bloc. It is an evolving platform for geopolitical dialogue, economic development, and cultural exchange. For India, it is an opportunity as well as a challenge to engage with its extended neighborhood and shape a balanced foreign policy.
