The leaders of China, Russia and India gathered with other heads of state in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group billed as a counterweight to U.S. global influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are attending the events in Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation. Putin and Xi met in one of the many bilateral sessions on the sidelines of the summit, Russian state media reported. Putin affirmed Moscow’s readiness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent, the reports said. Talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected Tuesday, when the official SCO sessions begin. Russia, now 4.5 years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Iran, six months into a war with the United States and Israel, see the summit as an important platform to strengthen their relations with non-Western partners. The SCO was founded in 2001 by China, Russia and four Central Asian states as a security forum. Over the past quarter-century, it has grown in size and influence, although its goals and programs remain vague and its brand recognition low. It now includes 10 nations: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Many other countries have the status of “dialogue partners.” Along with Russia, China has presented the SCO as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations like the G7, and in recent years has wanted to expand the scope and influence of the organization, pledging development and financial assistance. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that the organization has successfully “explored a new path for regional cooperation.” Beijing has consistently promoted the idea of an alternative world order with Russia’s support. Summit attendees have significant disagreements For many SCO members, the summit will be an opportunity to show that they maintain strong ties on the global stage despite souring relations with the West. The organization is not a unified political or military bloc, however, and analysts note that its members have significant disagreements and their own distinct interests. For countries such as India, however, experts say the summit is likely to be more about optics and strategic signaling than substantive outcomes. The forum is heavily influenced by China and includes Pakistan as a member -- both of which are rivals for India. Dinakar Peri, a fellow in security studies at Carnegie India, said the SCO gives India a seat at the table in a region increasingly shaped by competition among the larger powers, allowing it to protect its interests, track shifting geopolitical currents and project itself as a reliable stakeholder. “While it may not entirely shape the agenda, it gives New Delhi a first-hand view of the region and allows it to hedge its position with others,” Peri said. Turkiye, which holds partner status within the SCO, also seeks to use the platform to strengthen its position in the region. It views SCO membership as part of a balanced foreign policy that seeks to maintain its traditional ties with the West as a part of NATO, while strengthening its influence in Eurasia. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who brought his country into the SCO as a “dialogue partner” in 2012, has repeatedly stated that he wants Turkiye to become a permanent member. While Turkiye has close trade ties with the European Union under a 1995 trade deal, its EU membership bid has stalled for more than 25 years. ___ Andrew Wilks in Istanbul, Turkiye, Huizhong Wu in Bangkok, and Aijaz Hussain in New Delhi contributed. Yuras Karmanau, The Associated Press
