The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: a gathering attended by almost the whole world, except the West

The arrival of Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at Bishkek airport offered a striking picture of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s growing reach. The leaders came to Kyrgyzstan for a summit of a group that was once little known but is increasingly presented as a forum for countries seeking to push back against Western dominance. The Western leaders were notably absent.

The SCO has existed for 25 years and now brings together 10 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Asia. More states have joined as partner countries, particularly from the Middle East and Africa. The recent addition of Gulf states is especially notable because they have traditionally been allies of the United States.

Russia and China were the organisation’s original initiators, but China is the dominant partner, both economically and politically. Founded in Shanghai, the SCO says its goal is a “democratic, just and rational new international political and economic order.” In practice, that points to a world less dominated by the United States. The organisation also opposes what it calls the “three evils”: terrorism, separatism and extremism, while promising regional peace, security and stability. The goals remain broad and difficult to define.

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a democratic, just and rational new international political and economic order

The SCO does not require its members to provide military assistance when another member is attacked, unlike NATO. Its decisions follow the “Shanghai Spirit,” which means unanimity, respect for each country’s distinctiveness and, particularly important to China, no interference in domestic affairs.

Turkey’s presence added another layer to the summit. Although Turkey belongs to NATO, it recently became an SCO partner and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants full membership as soon as possible. He and the other leaders received boorsok, traditional fried dough balls served with honey, at the small airport in the Kyrgyz capital. The image of the Russian, Chinese and Indian leaders holding hands in a circle captured the organisation’s expanding political theatre.

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three evils