Key points
- Xi Jinping will preside over the largest-ever SCO summit in Tianjin, China.
- The summit includes leaders from Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, marking a significant expansion of the organization.
- Discussions will focus on the SCO’s future development strategy and Xi’s vision for global governance.
- Bilateral meetings, particularly between Putin and Modi, and Xi and Modi, will be closely watched for their impact on geopolitical relations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), co-founded by China, is holding its largest-ever summit in Tianjin, China, under the chairmanship of President Xi Jinping. This gathering, which brings together leaders from Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, and the newly admitted Belarus, serves as a significant display of China’s growing global influence, particularly amid rising tensions with the United States.
The summit’s agenda includes approving a decade-long development strategy for the SCO and outlining Xi’s vision for a reformed global governance system.
The event holds considerable geopolitical weight. The presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is especially significant, given the ongoing war in Ukraine and the complexities of US-India-Russia relations.
Bilateral discussions between these leaders and Xi Jinping will be closely scrutinized for indications of shifting alliances and potential breakthroughs on various issues. Specific areas of focus include the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline project between Russia and China, as well as the ongoing normalization efforts between India and China following their border disputes.
Concerns exist regarding the effectiveness of the SCO. Critics point to the organization’s failure to effectively respond to security crises affecting member states, citing instances of inaction during attacks on Iran and border clashes between India and Pakistan.
The summit will therefore be judged not only on its symbolic importance but also on its ability to address these shortcomings and demonstrate the SCO’s capacity for collective action.
A key indicator will be the tone of any joint statement issued and the extent to which it reflects a unified stance on global issues, particularly concerning the United States.
The inclusion of Belarus as a full member further underscores the SCO’s expanding reach and ambition to challenge existing global power structures. However, analysts caution that inherent internal divisions and competing national interests within the SCO could limit its capacity to become a truly cohesive and powerful bloc capable of effectively countering the influence of the United States and Europe.
The summit’s outcome will be carefully analyzed for its implications on the evolving global geopolitical landscape.
