Leaders from China, Russia, and India have gathered in Bishkek for the 25th anniversary of the SCO, focusing on regional security, economic integration, and shifting global power dynamics.
The annual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is convening in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, drawing together high-profile leaders including China’s President Xi Jinping, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Marking the organization's 25th anniversary, this two-day event takes place against a backdrop of significant global volatility. The summit occurs while international markets struggle with the consequences of the US-Israel conflict with Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine, which have collectively strained the global rules-based order.
This year’s theme, "Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity," reflects the aspirations of member states to cultivate a multipolar world. Beyond the core members, the summit includes participation from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and representatives from the United Nations and ASEAN. Analysts suggest that for major powers like China and India, this forum serves as a critical stage to project influence and deepen economic integration within the Global South, particularly as traditional Western-led institutions face increasing scrutiny.
Originally established in 1996 as the "Shanghai Five" to address regional security, the organization has evolved into a comprehensive bloc covering 43 percent of the world’s population and nearly a quarter of the global economy. Since its expansion to include India, Pakistan, and most recently Iran and Belarus, the SCO has sought to broaden its focus from security to trade and financial connectivity. A central point of discussion at this year’s summit is the potential advancement of the SCO Development Bank and associated investment funds, initiatives aimed at creating a financial architecture independent of Western systems.
Economic connectivity has become an urgent priority due to disruptions in maritime trade routes. With the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea facing significant security risks, member states are exploring alternative transit corridors. Notable projects include the 7,200km International North-South Transport Corridor and potential cooperation regarding the Northern Sea Route. These initiatives are designed to bypass traditional chokepoints and facilitate more resilient trade links between Russia, Central Asia, and India, further cementing the bloc’s role as a strategic alternative for regional logistics.
The summit provides a high-stakes venue for managing internal friction, particularly the complex relationship between India and China. Following a period of heightened tensions stemming from 2020 border skirmishes, the two nations have engaged in a gradual rapprochement. The presence of both leaders in Bishkek, alongside a scheduled bilateral meeting between Modi and Putin, offers a visible test of the current thaw in regional relations. Discussions are expected to encompass border management, trade stability, and the potential for a more unified stance on regional security.
For India, participating in the SCO is a delicate exercise in strategic autonomy. While the bloc is often perceived as a potential counterbalance to US-led alliances, India maintains a multifaceted foreign policy, balancing its membership in the SCO with its engagements in the Quad and its historical ties with the West. Analysts view the SCO as one of several platforms through which New Delhi seeks to maximize its agency, ensuring it remains an influential actor in Eurasian affairs without committing to a singular geopolitical axis.
The broader context of the summit is defined ade and sanctions have accelerated the desire among Global South nations to build alternative mechanisms for economic and security cooperation. While the SCO is not a monolithically anti-Western alliance, it provides a necessary forum for countries to hedge against volatility in the US-led order. Member states are increasingly focused on creating "strategic room for maneuver" to protect their national interests against external economic pressures.
As Russia seeks to demonstrate that it is not isolated despite international sanctions, and China continues its push for a multipolar order, the SCO is becoming an increasingly important institution for regional governance. However, experts caution that the organization’s success will depend on its ability to move beyond rhetoric. While the bloc has achieved consensus on some issues, such as advocating for peaceful resolutions to regional conflicts, substantive action on complex geopolitical disputes remains a challenge that will test the unity of its diverse membership in the years to come.