This post analyses India’s role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a regional organisation that comprises eight member states in Eurasia. It discusses the opportunities and challenges for India in SCO in terms of regional security, regionalism, Central Asia, China and Pakistan, and Russia. It also provides some suggestions for India to enhance its role and influence in SCO.
SCO Foreign ministers' meeting 2023
The foreign ministers of the eight member states of the 'Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)' met in Goa, India on 4-5 May to discuss regional security and cooperation issues . Some of the main outcomes were:
The foreign ministers expressed their support for India's chairmanship of the SCO for 2023 and its theme of “For a SECURE SCO” .
The foreign ministers approved the admission of Iran and Belarus as full members and Kuwait, Myanmar, the United Arab Emirates and Maldives as dialogue partners of the SCO .
The foreign ministers reviewed the preparations for the SCO leaders' summit to be held in July in New Delhi and issued a joint communique on the results of their meeting .
The foreign ministers exchanged views on various regional and international issues, such as Afghanistan, terrorism, climate change, Covid-19, connectivity, trade and energy .
The foreign ministers also held bilateral meetings with each other on the sidelines of the SCO meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest and concern . For example, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and raised issues such as the border dispute with China and the defence cooperation with Russia . He also slammed Pakistan for its support to terrorism and asked it to vacate the illegally occupied territories of Jammu and Kashmir.
India's role in SCO
India is a key global player that has an assertive and pragmatic role in the **Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)**, a regional organisation that consists of eight member states: China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India's role in SCO is influenced by the following factors:
- Regional Security: India joins SCO as a vital part of the Eurasian security framework, aiming to counter the challenges of terrorism, extremism and radicalisation in the region. India also seeks to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan and prevent the emergence of Islamic State (IS) influence .
- Regionalism: India participates in SCO as one of the few regional structures it is a part of, given its reduced engagement with SAARC, BBIN and the RCEP . India also supports the theme of “For a SECURE SCO” for 2023, which stands for security, economic development, connectivity, unity, respect and environment protection .
- Central Asia: India uses SCO as a potential platform to advance its Connect Central Asia policy, which focuses on commerce, connectivity, consular and community. India aims to enhance its trade and strategic ties with the Central Asian countries, especially in the areas of energy, mineral and transportation .
- China and Pakistan: India engages with China and Pakistan in a constructive manner through SCO, where it can raise its security interests and concerns. India also challenges China's expansionist and imperial policy towards its neighbours, such as the border dispute in Ladakh. India also criticises Pakistan's support to terrorism and asks it to vacate the illegally occupied territories of Jammu and Kashmir .
- Russia: India maintains its strong relationship with Russia, its Cold War ally, through SCO. India also balances its relations with Russia and China, given their growing reliance on each other amid their confrontation with the US. India also buys most of its defence equipment from Russia .