In a significant development aimed at expanding the influence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are set to attend an online summit hosted by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The summit, to be held virtually, seeks to forge a path to SCO membership for Belarus while also including Iran as a new member. Both countries currently enjoy observer status and have close ties with Moscow, making their membership pivotal in broadening the grouping’s reach across Europe and Asia.
The SCO, established in 2001 by China and Russia with participation from former Soviet central Asian states, later welcomed India and Pakistan as members. The eight-nation political and security group is known for its mission to counter western influence in Eurasia. India’s role as the current presidency of the SCO and the G20 places it in a diplomatic tightrope, as it balances relations between western nations and the Russia-China partnership amid geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s assertive global presence.
Modi’s recent state visit to the United States, where he and U.S. President Joe Biden reiterated their countries’ close partnership, added another layer of significance to the upcoming SCO summit. India’s refusal to blame Russia for the war and its record-high purchases of Russian oil have drawn attention and concern from several western capitals.
In preparation for the summit, Modi had a crucial conversation with Putin regarding the quashed mercenary mutiny. During the exchange, Modi reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy concerning the conflict in Ukraine. This discussion marks India’s most direct engagement with the Russian leader on the matter, emphasising the complexity of their diplomatic dynamics.
The summit will also reunite Modi and Xi on the virtual stage for the first time since the G20 summit in Indonesia last November. The relationship between India and China has been tense for over three years, with ongoing border standoffs complicating their ties as two nuclear-armed Asian giants.
Additionally, the online summit will facilitate a virtual meeting between Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, nearly 10 months after they both attended the SCO summit in Uzbekistan. This meeting could be crucial in addressing their countries’ bilateral issues and fostering regional stability.
As the SCO members gather online, they are expected to discuss a range of vital topics, including Afghanistan, terrorism, regional security, climate change, and digital inclusion. The summit’s outcome could play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Eurasian region and its relations with the rest of the world.
