Xi, Modi, and Putin Gather in Bishkek for the Milestone SCO Summit Amid Global Conflicts

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are convening in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek for an annual summit marking 25 years of the organization's existence. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in attendance at the two-day summit, which begins on Monday against the backdrop of global turbulence caused by the US-Israel war on Iran and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

This year's summit operates under the motto: Together for Sustainable Peace, Development and Prosperity. Attendees also include leaders from Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn.

Analysts note that the event provides an opportunity for rising powers like China and India to expand their global influence and engage with the Global South. William Yang of the International Crisis Group highlighted that China may use the platform to present itself as an advocate for peace, contrasting with the US, though actions will likely remain focused on rhetoric. Meanwhile, Alicia Garcia-Herrero of Natixis emphasized the milestone anniversary as a chance to advance the multipolar goals established in last year's Tianjin strategy.

Originating in 1996 as the "Shanghai Five" security bloc involving China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, the organization formally became the SCO in 2001 with the addition of Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024. Today, SCO member states comprise 43 percent of the global population and nearly a quarter of the world economy.

Key discussions on the agenda include the economic and social fallout from conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, the situation in Afghanistan, and stabilizing relations between India and China following recent diplomatic efforts. Economic integration, the proposed SCO Development Bank, and alternative transport corridors like the International North-South Transport Corridor and the Northern Sea Route are also central to the talks as maritime routes face disruption.