1. What is the SCO?
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organization focused on regional cooperation. • Founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, China, by six countries. • It promotes security, economic, and cultural cooperation among member states.
2. Founding Members
• China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan.
• Evolved from the Shanghai Five (1996), which focused on
border security and trust-building.
3. Current Membership (as of
September 2025)
• Full Members: 10 countries
Original six +
India, Pakistan (joined 2017), Iran (2023), Belarus (2024).
• Observer States: Afghanistan, Mongolia.
• Dialogue Partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Egypt,
Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Maldives
• Guests: ASEAN, CIS, Turkmenistan, UN, etc.
4. Objectives of the SCO
- Strengthen mutual trust and neighborly relations among members.
- Promote cooperation in Security:
- Combat terrorism,
separatism, and extremism (the "three evils").
- Economy: Trade,
investment, and regional development (e.g., Belt and Road Initiative).
- Culture: Education, youth exchanges, and cultural ties.
- Maintain regional stability and counter external influence (e.g., Western dominance).
5. Key Structures
• Heads of State Council: Highest decision-making body, meets annually.
• Heads of Government Council: Focuses on economic and trade cooperation.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Coordinates counter-terrorism efforts, based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
• Secretariat: Beijing, China (administrative hub).
• SCO Business Council & Interbank Consortium: Supports economic projects.
6. Significance
• Covers 60% of Eurasia’s landmass, 40% of the world’s
population, and 30% of global GDP.
• Acts as a counterbalance to Western-led organizations
(e.g., NATO, EU).
• Strengthens China-Russia strategic partnership while
integrating Central Asia.
• Provides a platform for India to engage in regional
security and economic initiatives.
7. Key Activities
- Annual Summits: Leaders discuss policies and sign agreements (e.g., Astana Summit 2024, Islamabad Summit 2024).
- Joint Military Exercises: E.g., "Peace Mission" for counter-terrorism.
- Economic Initiatives: Trade agreements, infrastructure projects, energy cooperation.
- Cultural Programs: SCO Youth Forum, cultural festivals.
8. Challenges
• Internal Rivalries: E.g.,
India-Pakistan tensions, China-India border disputes.
• Diverse Interests: Balancing
economic vs. security priorities.
• Geopolitical Tensions: Managing
influence of China and Russia vs. other members.
• Limited Global Impact: Less
cohesive than NATO or EU due to differing national agendas.
