SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting

Syllabus- International Relations [GS Paper-2]

27/06/2025

208 2 minutes read

India has refused to sign a joint declaration on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China.

India is not satisfied with the language of the joint record and there has been no point out of cross-border terrorist activities particularly the current Pahalgam Terror attack.
The refusal to advocate the report resulted in the conclave ending without a joint communication.

Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a sequence of border demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan have been participants of the Shanghai Five.
With the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
Objective: To decorate regional cooperation for efforts to curb terrorism, separatism, and extremism in the Central Asian region.
Members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus and the 4 Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.
- India became a full member in 2017 and assumed the rotating chairmanship in 2023.
- Member countries contribute around 30 percent of the global GDP and about 40 percent of the world’s population.
Observer status: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
Language: The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
Structure: The highest decision-making body of the SCO is the Council of Heads of States (CHS) which meets as soon as a year.
- The Organization has 2 status bodies — the Secretariat in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.

Regional Security: The SCO serves as a platform for addressing security concerns, including terrorism, separatism, and extremism, which are vital issues for India.
- Through SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), India collaborates on intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism efforts.
Balancing China and Pakistan: While each are SCO members, the forum allows India to claim its function and prevent the formation of anti-India narratives.
Energy Security: Central Asia is rich in oil, fuel, and uranium. SCO membership permits India to reinforce energy ties with these countries.
Economic Cooperation: The organisation facilitates financial collaboration among member states, which enhance trade and investment opportunities for India, specifically with Central Asian countries.
Central Asia: The SCO is in particular vital for India since its membership and focus emphasize Central Asia—a region in which India is eager to ramp up ties but faces an inherent constraint with its outreach.

China-Pakistan Axis: The strong partnership between China and Pakistan in the SCO complicates India’s strategic positioning, as at instances it limits India’s influence in regional security discussions.
Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing border disputes and geopolitical tensions with China and Pakistan spill over into SCO discussions, making it hard for India to interact constructively.
Focus on Security over Economic Development: The SCO’s primary recognition on security issues sometimes overshadow financial and developmental cooperation, which are vital for India’s interests in the region.
Institutional barriers: Decision-making within SCO is consensus-based, slowing progress on key issues.

SCO is a strategic platform for India to engage with Eurasian powers, promote regional stability, stable financial and energy interests, and enhance counter-terrorism cooperation.
Despite challenges, India uses SCO to promote its vision of “Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)” and as a counterbalance to Western alliances.

Source: The Indian Express