Russia, China, Iran leaders to attend SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan

Leaders from Russia, China, and Iran are converging in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for a significant two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), marking the bloc's 25th anniversary. Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, who have consistently used SCO gatherings to advocate for a multipolar world order and present a united front against Western influence, are expected to lead discussions.

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Putin and Xi have previously used SCO summits to promote their vision of a multipolar world and present a united front against the West.

The SCO brings together a diverse group of nations, including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries, and Moscow-allied Belarus. The summit will see approximately a dozen heads of state in attendance, with Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov chairing the proceedings. Beyond the plenary session, Putin is also slated for separate bilateral talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chinese President Xi, among others.

This high-level meeting takes place against a backdrop of global instability. It occurs more than four years into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and amidst heightened tensions involving Iran. Russia and Iran, both heavily sanctioned nations, have significantly deepened their military and economic ties since the Ukraine conflict began. The United States, through President Donald Trump's administration, has previously warned Moscow and Beijing against arming Iran.

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Russia and Iran - among the most sanctioned states in the world - have massively deepened their military and economic ties during the Ukraine war.

The SCO, historically focused on economic cooperation, has gained momentum under Russian and Chinese leadership in recent years. Its membership has expanded to include 10 core members and 15 "dialogue partners," such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, with Afghanistan and Mongolia as observer countries. Despite its founding declaration stating the group is "not an alliance directed against other states," Putin and Xi have frequently used these summits for anti-Western rhetoric.

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The SCO's founding declaration says the group is "not an alliance directed against other states".

The Bishkek summit unfolds amidst ongoing real wars, such as the Ukraine conflict, and escalating trade wars. The US has recently imposed secondary sanctions on Iran's trading partners, targeting sectors like gold and technology, in an effort to cripple the Iranian regime. China, a major importer of Iranian oil, has vowed to "firmly defend" its interests, while Iran, under decades of sanctions, maintains it will not yield to economic pressure. President Pezeshkian has acknowledged the severe economic challenges facing his country.

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But Putin and Xi have repeatedly made anti-Western speeches during its summits.