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Leaders of China, Russia and India Gather at SCO Summit to Counter US Influence
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Elections & Politics

Leaders of China, Russia and India Gather at SCO Summit to Counter US Influence

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
  • The summit includes planned bilateral meetings involving Putin, Xi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
  • The SCO has expanded to 10 members but remains divided, with analysts saying India may use the forum mainly for strategic signaling and to protect its interests.

The leaders of China, Russia and India are due to meet in Bishkek this week as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization presents itself as a counterweight to US global influence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to attend the summit in the Kyrgyz capital. The program also includes bilateral meetings, including talks between Putin and Xi on Monday and discussions between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, when the official SCO sessions take place.

For Russia and Iran, the summit offers a platform to strengthen relations with non-Western partners. Russia is in its fourth and a half year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while Iran is six months into a war with the United States and Israel, according to the report.

explored a new path for regional cooperation

— China’s Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe ministry’s description of the SCO’s role in regional cooperation.

The SCO began in 2001 as a security forum founded by China, Russia and four Central Asian states. It now has 10 members: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other countries participate as dialogue partners.

China and Russia promote the organization as an alternative to Western-aligned groups such as the G7. Beijing has sought to broaden the SCO’s influence and has pledged development and financial assistance. China’s Foreign Ministry said the group had “explored a new path for regional cooperation.”

The members, however, do not form a unified political or military bloc. They have substantial disagreements and separate interests. For India, Carnegie India security fellow Dinakar Peri said the forum offers a place to monitor regional competition, protect its interests and present itself as a reliable stakeholder. “While it may not entirely shape the agenda, it gives New Delhi a first-hand view of the region and allows it to hedge its position with others,” Peri said.

While it may not entirely shape the agenda, it gives New Delhi a first-hand view of the region and allows it to hedge its position with others

— Dinakar PeriThe Carnegie India fellow described what India gains from participating in the SCO.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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