The Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its stature in the modern world
- Iran and Belarus could soon become the newest members of China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
What is SCO?
- Secretariat: Beijing
- 2001: ‘Shanghai Five (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan)’ inducted Uzbekistan and named it SCO.
- Four observer states: Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia
- Iran and Belarus are now moving towards full membership.
- Main goals
- Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states
- Promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research and technology, and culture.
- Executive Committee of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.
- Grouping consists:
- Heads of State Council (HSC)
- Heads of Government Council (HGC)
- Foreign Ministers Council
How is this relevant to India?
- 2005: India acquired observer status
- 2017: Admitted as full member
- India is part of ‘Quad’ grouping with the U.S., Japan and Australia.
- Its association with grouping of different nature is part of its foreign policy that emphasizes on principles of “strategic autonomy and multi-alignment”.
Conclusion
- Iranian leadership has often stressed that the country must “look to the East”.
- This is essential to resist its economic isolation from the West and find strategic allies that would help it to reach a new agreement on the nuclear program.