Why in News?
India refused to associate itself with a statement by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) condemning Israel’s military strikes on Iran in another show of solidarity with Israel this week, after it abstained from voting on a UN resolution seeking ceasefire in Gaza.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a multilateral political, economic, security, and defence organization comprising 10 member states across Eurasia. It represents the world’s largest regional organization by area and population, covering approximately 24% of the world’s landmass and 42% of its population.
- Headquarter:
- Beijing, China
- Secretary-General:
- Nurlan Yermekbayev
Member States
- Founding Members (2001): China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- Expanded Members:
- India and Pakistan joined in June 2017
- Iran became a full member in July 2023
- Belarus joined in July 2024
Origins and Development
- Predecessor: Shanghai Five (1996–2000), comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
- 1996: Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions
- 1997: Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions
- Regular summits fostered border cooperation, military trust, and non-interference principles.
- Formation of SCO:
- June 2001: Uzbekistan joined the Shanghai Five members to establish the SCO in Shanghai.
- The group evolved from a confidence-building mechanism to a broader strategic platform for regional stability, economic cooperation, and counter-terrorism.
Structure and Governance
- Heads of State Council (HSC): Supreme decision-making body, meets annually.
- Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Coordinates intelligence and counter-terrorism efforts among member states.
Key Principles
- Respect for sovereignty, non-interference, territorial integrity, and collective security.
- Promotion of a multipolar world order and regional integration without external intervention.
