SOURCE: AFI
Just days before the recent NATO summit in Washington, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its annual meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan. This gathering of leaders from the world’s largest regional organization saw the addition of Belarus to the bloc.
Established in 2001 by China and Russia, the SCO’s initial focus was on security and economic matters in Central Asia. However, amidst intensifying global competition and strained relations with the West, China and Russia are increasingly portraying the SCO as a counterweight to the US-led international order.
Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine, the SCO summit conspicuously avoided public discussion of the conflict. In contrast, the Ukraine war dominated discussions at the subsequent NATO summit, further highlighting the deepening rift between the West and China-Russia. China’s support for Russia, deemed “decisive” by NATO, stoked these tensions.
India, known for its ambivalent stance within the SCO, presented a unique case study. Last year, New Delhi hosted the summit but opted for a virtual format at the last minute. This year, Prime Minister Modi skipped the event altogether, sending his Foreign Minister instead.
India’s wariness stems from its perception of the SCO as a China-dominated platform. Following the deadly border clashes in 2020, Modi is reluctant to lend political capital to Chinese initiatives. However, India’s membership offers some influence over the SCO’s agenda and allows them to block actions detrimental to its interests.
India’s 2017 entry into the SCO, alongside Pakistan, was motivated by a desire to prevent Islamabad from using the platform to criticize India unchallenged. This concern remains valid – attending this year’s summit would likely have exposed Modi to Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif’s accusations of Indian state-sponsored terrorism.
The SCO summit serves as a microcosm of the complex geopolitical landscape. India navigates a delicate balance, wary of China’s dominance but seeking to leverage the platform for its own interests. Whether India can maintain this balancing act in the face of escalating global tensions remains to be seen.