Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a major Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance. It was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, evolving from the earlier Shanghai Five mechanism. Its scope has expanded significantly to address regional security, economic integration, and cultural cooperation among its growing membership.

History

The origins trace to the mid-1990s with the formation of the Shanghai Five, which focused on building confidence and disarmament along the shared borders of the former Soviet Union and China. The formal establishment occurred on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, with the signing of the Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Key early drivers were addressing threats from terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021). Major expansion occurred with the accession of India and Pakistan as full members in 2017 at the Astana summit, and Iran joined in 2023 following the Samarkand summit. The organisation has held regular summits in cities like Bishkek, Dushanbe, and Qingdao.

Member states and structure

The eight full member states are the founding six plus India and Pakistan, with Iran joining as the latest member. Observer states include Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia. Dialogue partners span from Turkey and Azerbaijan to Sri Lanka and Nepal. The two principal permanent bodies are the Secretariat in Beijing, headed by the Secretary-General, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) headquartered in Tashkent. Decision-making is centered on the annual Council of Heads of State, with supporting bodies like the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Council of National Coordinators.

Objectives and activities

Core objectives are maintaining regional stability, combating the "three evils" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism, and fostering multilateral economic partnership. Its activities are prominently showcased in large-scale joint military exercises, such as Peace Mission and Counter-Terrorism Exercise, often held in locations like the Ural Mountains or Kyrgyzstan. The organisation facilitates intelligence-sharing and security operations through RATS, targeting groups like the Islamic State and the East Turkestan Islamic Movement. It also promotes a vision of a multipolar world order, frequently articulated by leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, as an alternative to Western-led alliances.

Cooperation areas

Cooperation extends beyond security into several key domains. Economically, initiatives aim to develop connectivity through projects like the Belt and Road Initiative and the International North–South Transport Corridor, with a focus on energy from the Caspian Sea region. The SCO Interbank Consortium and plans for an SCO Development Bank seek to finance infrastructure. Cultural and humanitarian cooperation includes the SCO University, a network of universities across member states, and events like the SCO Film Festival and the SCO Youth Council. Environmental and healthcare collaboration has been discussed, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relations with other organizations

The organisation maintains formal dialogue and memoranda of understanding with several major international bodies. It has an official relationship with the United Nations General Assembly, where it often promotes its security agenda. Cooperation exists with the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on overlapping regional issues. Its relationship with Western-led blocs like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union is generally characterized by strategic competition and differing perspectives on global governance, though practical contacts on specific security matters occasionally occur.