Leaders from Russia, China, Iran, India, Türkiye, and Pakistan convened in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday for a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), marking the group’s 25th anniversary. The gathering took place amid ongoing conflicts involving some member states, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between the United States and Iran.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping opened discussions, reaffirming their countries’ bilateral ties and their shared vision of a multipolar world. Xi characterized the international environment as increasingly uncertain and unpredictable, while emphasizing the strengthening of Russia-China cooperation. Putin echoed these sentiments, noting successful collaboration across various sectors. The pair had last met in May, and their economies remain closely linked, with Russia increasingly reliant on China due to Western sanctions following the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the war in Ukraine was only briefly discussed during their talks.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian also attended and engaged in discussions with leaders including India’s Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s Shehbaz Sharif. Speaking after a recent exchange of fire between the United States and Iran, Pezeshkian expressed Tehran’s interest in pursuing agreement and understanding, stating that continued conflict was not in Iran’s or the region’s interest. Iran joined the SCO as a full member in 2023 and has deepened military and economic ties with Russia, both countries subject to extensive international sanctions.
Putin is expected to hold separate talks with Pezeshkian, a meeting occurring shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s visit to Moscow—speculated to have focused on Ukraine and Iran. The summit also includes a plenary session led by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, where several heads of state, including Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian, Modi, and Sharif, are scheduled to participate.
The SCO, originally focused on economic cooperation, has gained greater geopolitical significance under the leadership of Moscow and Beijing. Its membership includes ten countries, with 15 dialogue partners such as Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, and two observers: Afghanistan and Mongolia. Despite the bloc’s claim of not being directed against any state, its leadership has often voiced criticisms of Western policies during past meetings.
The summit occurs against the backdrop of broader tensions, including US-imposed secondary sanctions targeting Iran’s trade partners in sectors like gold, technology, digital assets, aviation, and maritime transport, aimed at damaging Tehran’s economy. Washington has also warned SCO members against supporting Iran militarily. In response, China, a major importer of Iranian oil, pledged to defend its interests firmly, while Tehran acknowledged facing economic hardships but maintained its resistance to external economic pressure.
According to international relations expert Mohammad Hassan Najmi, Iran views its SCO membership as a means to mitigate the effects of US and European sanctions, although he noted that the bloc’s effectiveness in resolving Tehran’s challenges during crises remains uncertain. The SCO also faces internal complexities, including rivalries between Russia and China for influence in Central Asia and strained relations between some member states like India and Pakistan.