Formation: The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization founded in June 2001 in Shanghai, China.
Founding Members: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan. These nations initially collaborated in 1996 to address
regional security, reduce border troops, and combat terrorism in the post-Soviet era.
Expansion: In 2001, Uzbekistan joined the group, and the organization was renamed the SCO, embodying the principles of the
Shanghai Spirit of cooperation.
- Scope: The SCO represents about 42% of the world’s population, 22% of its land area, and 20% of global GDP.
- Languages: Chinese and Russian are the official working languages.
Headquarters: SCO Secretariat is based in Beijing, China.
- Members, Observers, and Dialogue Partners
- Members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus. India and Pakistan
joined as full members in 2017, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in 2024. - Observers: Afghanistan, Mongolia.
- Dialogue Partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Sri Lanka. In 2022, the
process began to include Bahrain, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, and the UAE as Dialogue Partners.
Organisational Structure
- Heads of State Council (HSC): The top decision-making body, meeting annually.
- Council of Heads of Government: The second-highest council.
- Council of Foreign Ministers: Regular meetings to discuss international issues.
- Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Based in Tashkent, focusing on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism.
India’s Association with SCO
- Membership: India joined as an observer in 2005 and became a full member in 2017.
- Initiatives: India introduced five new areas of cooperation: Startups and Innovation, Traditional Medicine, Digital Inclusion,
Youth Empowerment, and Shared Buddhist Heritage. - New Mechanisms: Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation and Experts Working Group on Traditional Medicine,
established at India’s initiative. - Cultural Contribution: Varanasi was celebrated as the first SCO Tourist and Cultural Capital for 2022-23.
Significance of SCO
- Security Focus: One of the few international organizations dealing with security issues, with primary membership from Asian
countries. - Alternative Power Block: Russia and China emphasize the SCO as an alternative to the Western-dominated international
order. Along with BRICS, the SCO is seen as a counterbalance to U.S. influence. - Expansion: Recent additions, such as Iran, reflect the organization’s growing influence amid strained U.S. relations with Russia
and China.
Relevance of SCO for India
- Cooperation: Enhances collaboration with Central Asian countries on security issues.
- Counter-Terrorism: The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) facilitates counter-terrorism exercises, intelligence analysis,
and information sharing. - Challenges: Effectiveness is hampered by member tensions, notably India’s strained relations with China and Pakistan. India’s
opposition to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passing
through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, highlights these challenges.
Criticism of SCO
- Russia-China Competition: Despite declarations of strong friendship, there is an underlying rivalry for influence, particularly in
Central Asia, traditionally Russia’s sphere, now seeing significant Chinese investment. - Chinese Hegemony: The SCO is viewed by some as a platform for advancing Chinese interests.
- Internal Rivalries: The organization’s broad initiatives often mask unresolved tensions, such as those between India and
Pakistan or India and China. The SCO’s ambiguous language allows members to nominally support initiatives while prioritizing
their national interests.