Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Denounces US-Israel War on Iran and Western Sanctions at Bishkek Summit

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have signed a joint statement condemning the US and Israel’s war on Iran and Western sanctions on some of their members, following a two-day summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek. The joint statement, known as the “Bishkek Declaration”, was signed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, alongside other leaders of SCO member nations, including Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan President Emomali Rakhmon, and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The SCO condemned “military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the country’s economy”. Member states stated that the US-Israel attacks on Iran “violate the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter and create serious risks to international peace, security and stability”. They also expressed sincere condolences to the people and Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the tragic death of Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei, while reaffirming support for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Addressing the broader region, the declaration noted that Israel’s attacks on Palestine had destabilized West Asia, emphasizing that a just settlement of the Palestinian question is essential for peace. Furthermore, SCO members opposed any “unilateral coercive measures” contrary to UN and World Trade Organization rules that negatively impact the global economy.

The grouping also backed Iran’s rights as a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), emphasizing its inalienable right to develop and use atomic energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination. Economic and energy cooperation were prominent topics as well, with members committing to implement the SCO Economic Development Strategy and the Energy Cooperation Strategy to 2030 to counter disruptions in global supply chains caused by the conflict.

Additionally, discussions touched upon regional security, where India and Pakistan addressed the issue of terrorism. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for dismantling terrorist financing and avoiding double standards, while Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif highlighted Islamabad's sacrifices in the fight against terrorism. The Bishkek declaration ultimately committed all SCO leaders to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism in all their forms.