Iran to join SCO

Iran has moved a step closer towards becoming a permanent member of a China and Russia-dominated Asian security body, SCO.

About Shanghai Cooperation Organization:

• SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
• It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security, and stability in the region.
• It was created in 2001. Prior to the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
• The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
• India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
• SCO Secretariat – Based in Beijing to provide informational, analytical & organizational support.
• The aim of SCO is to establish cooperation between member nations on:

• Security-related concerns
• Resolving border issues
• Military cooperation
• Intelligence sharing
• Countering terrorism
• Countering American influence in Central Asia
• The 2022 annual summit of the SCO is being held in Samarkand (Samarkand also known as Samarqand, is a city in south-eastern Uzbekistan).
• India will be the next chair of the organisation.

What significance the 2022 SCO summit hold for India?

• While it is the first time since the pandemic, when SCO leaders will be meeting in person, the meet is also going to be a first of many others.
• The meet will be a crucial balancing step for India in view of Russia's war with the eyes of the US on the summit.
• The summit and the Modi-Putin meeting will also coincide with the kicking in of the G7's price cap on Russian oil.
• As India will assume the presidency of the SCO until September 2023, the organisation could also be a vocal platform for New Delhi to push the agenda of regional and cross-regional connectivity.
• India can also use the summit to push for the Chabahar port project and International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).