The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) recently commemorated its 25th anniversary in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with a summit featuring 21 heads of state and the signing of the two-page Bishkek Declaration. While the bloc represents approximately a quarter of the global population and a significant portion of the world's GDP, the event underscored the organization's ongoing struggle to act as a cohesive entity.

Rather than functioning as a unified body capable of resolving regional disputes, the SCO continues to serve primarily as a platform for parallel bilateral negotiations. Leaders used the summit to project national interests to domestic audiences, often highlighting the deep divisions between member states.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi utilized the plenary session to address regional tensions, implicitly criticizing Pakistan regarding terrorism and financing. Modi also emphasized the importance of respecting territorial sovereignty, a stance interpreted as a rebuke of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and China’s infrastructure projects in disputed territories. Furthermore, Modi directly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to move toward an end to the conflict in Ukraine, stating, “Every day spent in war pushes humanity backwards.”

Advertisement

For President Putin, the summit provided a necessary venue for international engagement amid his limited diplomatic mobility due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant. While Putin maintained a rigorous schedule of bilateral meetings, Chinese President Xi Jinping adopted a more selective approach, focusing his attention primarily on Russia before departing for a state visit to Egypt. This shift suggests that Beijing may increasingly prioritize alternative forums, such as BRICS, over the SCO.

Ultimately, the Bishkek summit demonstrated that the SCO’s most influential members—China, India, and Russia—are utilizing the organization to pursue distinct and often conflicting agendas. Despite the ceremonial agreements on nuclear safety and security, the anniversary served as a reminder that the bloc remains a collection of individual interests rather than a unified geopolitical power.

Source: The Conversation