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What makes this SCO summit different for India is Iran
Developing
China dominates its economic architecture; Russia retains enormous political influence, and Pakistan’s presence inevitably complicates India’s participation. PM Modi is there with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin , Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and the leaders of Central Asia.
Russia remains an important strategic partner even as India has consistently advocated dialogue and diplomacy to end the Ukraine conflict. The war in Ukraine continues, the Gulf has been shaken by the US-Israel conflict with Iran, maritime commerce remains vulnerable, and the international system is searching for a new equilibrium.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit comes at an unusually consequential moment. India cannot aspire to become a leading power while remaining absent from the tables at which Eurasia’s future is being discussed.
The SCO has never been an entirely comfortable strategic space for India. For India, this is precisely where it needs to be.
Their Bishkek discussions covered defence, energy, economic cooperation and the consequences of conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea for maritime trade. In such circumstances, the significance of the SCO lies perhaps less in what its declarations say, and more in who is sitting around the table.
The PM’s bilateral engagement with Putin is therefore significant. Yet none of this diminishes the importance of the organisation.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit comes at an unusually consequential moment.
- The war in Ukraine continues, the Gulf has been shaken by the US-Israel conflict with Iran, maritime commerce remains vulnerable, and the international system is searching for a new equilibrium.
- In such circumstances, the significance of the SCO lies perhaps less in what its declarations say, and more in who is sitting around the table.
- PM Modi is there with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin , Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and the leaders of Central Asia.
- For India, this is precisely where it needs to be.
- The SCO has never been an entirely comfortable strategic space for India.
- China dominates its economic architecture; Russia retains enormous political influence, and Pakistan’s presence inevitably complicates India’s participation.
- Yet none of this diminishes the importance of the organisation.
Sources
- healthlink