The leaders of China, Russia, and India are among the heads of state gathering in Kyrgyzstan this week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which is positioned as a counterweight to U.S. global influence.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are scheduled to attend the events in Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation.
Multiple one-on-one meetings are planned on the sidelines, including a meeting between Putin and Xi on Monday, as well as discussions between the Russian leader and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, the day of the official SCO sessions.
Russia, which is 4½ years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Iran, six months into a conflict with the United States and Israel, view the summit as an important venue to reinforce their relationships with non-Western partners.
The SCO was established in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian states as a security forum. Over the last quarter-century, it has increased in size and influence, though its objectives and programs remain vague and its brand recognition is low.
It currently comprises 10 nations: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Numerous other countries hold the status of “dialogue partners.”
Alongside Russia, China has promoted the SCO as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations such as the G7, and in recent years, it has sought to broaden the organization's scope and influence by pledging development and financial assistance.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated last week that the organization has successfully “explored a new path for regional cooperation.” Beijing has consistently advanced the concept of an alternative world order with Russia's backing.
Summit attendees hold significant disagreements
For many SCO members, the summit offers an opportunity to demonstrate that they maintain strong international ties despite deteriorating relations with the West.
However, the organization is not a unified political or military bloc, and analysts observe that its members possess distinct interests and considerable disagreements.
For countries like India, experts suggest the summit is more likely focused on optics and strategic signaling rather than concrete results.
The forum is heavily influenced by China and includes Pakistan as a member—both of which are rivals to India.
Dinakar Peri, a fellow in security studies at Carnegie India, stated that the SCO provides India with a seat at the table in a region increasingly defined by competition among major powers, enabling it to safeguard its interests, monitor shifting geopolitical currents, and present itself as a reliable stakeholder.
Peri added, “While it may not entirely shape the agenda, it gives New Delhi a first-hand view of the region and allows it to hedge its position with others.”
Turkey, which holds partner status within the SCO, also aims to leverage the platform to strengthen its regional standing.
It views SCO membership as part of a balanced foreign policy that seeks to preserve traditional ties with the West through NATO while simultaneously boosting its influence in Eurasia.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who brought Turkey into the SCO as a “dialogue partner” in 2012, has repeatedly expressed his desire for Turkey to become a permanent member. Although Turkey maintains close trade relations with the European Union under a 1995 trade deal, its bid for EU membership has been stalled for over 25 years.