SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANISATION

Iran and Belarus could soon become the newest member of the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the upcoming Samarkand summit to be held in September 2022. Also, Varanasi has been selected as the SCO region's first "Tourism and Cultural Capital" for 2022- 2023.

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?

• Founded in the year 2001, it was built on the “Shanghai Five”, the grouping which consisted of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
• They came together in the post-Soviet era in 1996, to work on regional security, reduction of border troops, and terrorism.
• In 2001, the Shanghai five inducted Uzbekistan into its fold and named it the SCO, outlining its principle in a charter that promoted what was called the “Shanghai spirit of cooperation”.
• The charter adopted in St.Petersburg in 2002, enlisted its main goals as strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states, promoting their effectiveness in politics, trade, economy, research, technology, and culture.
• India acquired the observer status in the grouping in 2005 and was admitted as a full member in 2017 along with Pakistan.

Objective

• Strengthening the mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states.
• Enhancing the tie in education, energy, transport, tourism, and environmental protection.
• To maintain and ensure peace, security, and stability in the region.
• Establishment of the democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

Membership

China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.

Structure

• The SCO Secretariat has two permanent bodies that include, the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the executive committee of the Regional anti-terrorist structure (RATS) based in Tashkent.
• The Regional anti-terrorist structure was established to combat terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the nations.
• The grouping consists of the Head of State Council (HSC), the Head of the Government Council (HGC), and the Foreign Ministers Council.
• The HSC is the supreme decision-making body of the organization. It meets annually to adopt decisions and guidance on all important matters relevant to the organization.

How is this relevant to India?

• The SCO host has encouraged members to use the platform to discuss differences with other members on the sideline of the summit.
• Beyond this, India’s principal benefit from joining the SCO will be geopolitical. It will help bring India closer to China by supporting the only multilateral security entity outside the United Nations that China has created, is a part of, and doesn’t refuse India's entry into.
• New Delhi has a clear three-pronged policy approach that is to deepen ties with Russia; monitor and counter the influence of China and Pakistan and expand cooperation with Central Asia Regions.
• India has proposed setting up a special working group on innovation and start-ups. Also, traditional medicine is of considerable interest to the region. As a leader in the field, India is ready to collaborate with interested parties.
• India can get access to energy-rich Central Asian countries. These countries also support India’s permanent membership in United Nations.
• Through RATS India can get access to intelligence information on terrorism and extremism.
• India can build connectivity to Afghanistan through Central Asia bypassing Pakistan.
• India has built its first air base outside India at Farkhor in Tajikistan which shows India’s rising interest in the strategic Central Asian Countries.

India is rising its presence in the region but still, its investment is far less compared to China. Poor connectivity of India with these regions also gives an edge to China which has built rail and road access to these regions. To counter China’s dominance in this region India needs to strengthen its diplomatic ties with greater connectivity prospects.