SCO Summit in Bishkek Brings Xi, Putin, Modi and Pezeshkian Together Amid Global Tensions
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Leaders of some of Eurasia’s most influential countries are gathering in Kyrgyzstan for a landmark Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit as the regional bloc celebrates its 25th anniversary against a backdrop of wars, sanctions, trade disputes and shifting geopolitical alliances.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek on Sunday, ahead of the two-day SCO summit beginning Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are also expected to participate.
The gathering could become one of the most important diplomatic events in Central Asia this year.
A Quarter-Century of the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was formally established in 2001 after growing out of the earlier Shanghai Five framework.
What began largely as a mechanism for reducing border tensions and improving regional security has developed into a much broader organisation covering security, trade, transport, energy and economic cooperation.
The current membership includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.
The organisation now represents a substantial share of the world’s population and economic activity.
Xi Jinping Arrives in Bishkek
Xi arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Sunday for the summit and a state visit.
His delegation includes Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, senior Communist Party official Cai Qi and First Lady Peng Liyuan.
Xi’s presence underlines the importance Beijing attaches to the organisation and to its relationships with Central Asian countries.
Following his Kyrgyzstan visit, Xi is also scheduled to travel to Egypt for a state visit.
Putin Expected to Join the Gathering
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to arrive in Bishkek for the summit.
The Kremlin has indicated that Putin will hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.
Among the expected meetings are discussions with Xi Jinping and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Putin is also scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making the summit particularly important for India-Russia relations.
Modi-Putin Meeting Draws Attention
The planned meeting between Modi and Putin is one of the most closely watched bilateral encounters at the summit.
The two leaders are expected to review the broader India-Russia strategic relationship.
Defence cooperation, energy, trade and major international developments are likely to be relevant areas of discussion.
The meeting is also significant because the two countries are preparing for another major diplomatic interaction at the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September.
Possible Modi-Xi Engagement
Another closely watched interaction involves Modi and Xi.
India and China have been attempting to improve bilateral relations following years of tension along their disputed Himalayan border.
Senior officials from both countries recently held another round of boundary discussions.
A meeting between Modi and Xi in Bishkek could provide an opportunity to assess whether the recent diplomatic improvement is developing into a more stable relationship.
India-China Relations in Focus
Relations between New Delhi and Beijing deteriorated sharply after the deadly 2020 border confrontation.
Both countries subsequently increased military deployments and infrastructure along sensitive areas of the Line of Actual Control.
Recent diplomatic efforts have sought to reduce tensions and restore greater stability.
The possibility of another Modi-Xi interaction therefore carries significance beyond the SCO itself.
Pakistan Also Attends
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will participate in the summit alongside Modi.
The two leaders will be attending the same major international gathering more than a year after the latest serious military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
The SCO provides a multilateral setting where the two countries can maintain diplomatic communication even when bilateral relations remain complicated.
Kashmir and regional security are among the broader issues that continue to influence India-Pakistan relations.
Iran’s President Joins the Summit
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also expected in Bishkek.
His participation comes as Tehran faces increasing economic pressure from Washington.
The United States has warned countries and companies maintaining significant business with Iran that they could face secondary sanctions.
Iran is therefore seeking to strengthen its relationships with countries including China, Russia and other members of the SCO.
Putin-Pezeshkian Talks Expected
Putin is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Pezeshkian during the summit.
Russia and Iran have strengthened their strategic and economic cooperation in recent years.
Both countries have faced extensive Western sanctions and have developed closer relationships in energy, trade and defence.
Their meeting could focus on regional security as well as economic cooperation.
Ukraine War Adds Geopolitical Weight
The SCO summit is taking place more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The war continues to shape Russia’s relationship with the West and has contributed to major changes in global energy, trade and security arrangements.
Moscow has increasingly turned toward Asian partners as Western sanctions have restricted its access to some traditional markets.
The SCO therefore provides Russia with an important platform for maintaining high-level diplomatic engagement.
Middle East Crisis Also on Agenda
The continuing conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel is another major issue affecting the summit.
Iran’s position within the SCO has given Tehran an important international platform during a period of intense pressure.
The organisation has previously called for political and diplomatic solutions to major international conflicts.
Leaders are expected to discuss wider developments in the Middle East as part of their conversations on international and regional security.
Afghanistan Remains Important
Afghanistan is another major regional security concern.
The country borders several SCO members or nearby states and remains vulnerable to terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and economic instability.
SCO members have repeatedly discussed preventing extremist groups from using Afghan territory to threaten neighbouring countries.
The summit could therefore include discussions about regional stability and security cooperation involving Afghanistan.
India Highlights Security, Connectivity and Opportunity
India has outlined three broad priorities for its SCO engagement: Security, Connectivity and Opportunity.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to emphasise cooperation against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
India also wants greater connectivity across Eurasia while ensuring that transport projects respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Economic cooperation and investment are another important part of New Delhi’s regional strategy.
Trade and Transport Links
The SCO is increasingly focusing on economic connectivity.
Members want to improve transportation networks linking China, Central Asia, Russia, South Asia and other markets.
Better railways, roads, ports and logistics systems could reduce transportation costs and strengthen trade across the region.
For India, improved access to Central Asian markets remains a major strategic objective.
Proposed SCO Development Bank
Members have also been discussing the possibility of creating an SCO Development Bank.
The proposal is intended to provide financing for infrastructure and development projects within member states.
However, important details concerning its structure, financing and operating arrangements remain under discussion.
If established, such an institution could become an important mechanism for expanding economic cooperation among SCO members.
A Changing Global Economic Order
The summit comes as global trade patterns are undergoing significant changes.
Western sanctions, supply-chain disruptions and geopolitical competition are encouraging countries to diversify trade routes and financial relationships.
China and Russia have increasingly promoted a more multipolar international system.
India, meanwhile, continues to pursue strategic autonomy and maintains relationships with both Western and non-Western powers.
The SCO provides a platform where these different approaches can coexist.
The SCO Is Not a Military Alliance
Despite its security focus, the SCO is not equivalent to NATO.
The organisation does not have a collective-defence clause requiring members to militarily defend one another.
Its decisions are primarily based on consultation and cooperation.
This allows countries with very different foreign policies—including India and Pakistan—to participate in the same organisation.
India Balances Multiple Partnerships
India’s participation illustrates the country’s approach to strategic autonomy.
New Delhi maintains close relationships with Russia while simultaneously expanding partnerships with the United States, Europe, Japan and other countries.
India is also a member of groups such as the Quad and BRICS.
Its participation in the SCO allows it to maintain an active role in Eurasian diplomacy without formally aligning itself with any single geopolitical bloc.
China and Russia Seek Greater Influence
For China and Russia, the SCO provides an important platform for advancing their vision of a more multipolar international system.
Both countries oppose what they describe as excessive Western influence in international affairs.
However, the organisation includes members with different interests, making complete political unity unlikely.
The challenge for Beijing and Moscow is therefore to turn the organisation’s large membership into practical cooperation without forcing members into a rigid geopolitical alignment.
Central Asia Gains Greater Importance
The summit also highlights the growing strategic importance of Central Asia.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan sit at the crossroads of major trade and energy routes.
Their geographic position gives them increasing importance as countries seek alternatives to traditional transportation corridors.
China’s Belt and Road Initiative has already expanded its economic presence across the region.
India, Russia, Türkiye and European countries are also seeking stronger connections with Central Asian economies.
Kyrgyzstan Hands Over the SCO Chair
The summit will also mark the end of Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship of the organisation.
The chairmanship is expected to pass to Pakistan, which will lead the SCO for the following year and host the next leaders’ summit.
This gives Islamabad an opportunity to influence the organisation’s agenda and promote its priorities within the multilateral framework.
World Nomad Games Add Cultural Dimension
Prime Minister Modi is also expected to attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games during his Kyrgyzstan visit.
The event celebrates the cultural heritage and traditional sporting traditions of Central Asia.
The cultural programme adds a people-to-people dimension to what is otherwise a highly strategic diplomatic gathering.
Why This Summit Matters
The Bishkek summit comes at a moment when international relations are undergoing major changes.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are challenging existing security structures.
Trade disputes are reshaping global supply chains.
China and Russia are strengthening their strategic cooperation.
India is expanding its role across Central Asia.
Iran is seeking greater diplomatic and economic support amid Western pressure.
All of these developments intersect within the SCO.
What to Watch
Several developments will receive particular attention during the summit:
- Modi-Xi engagement and India-China relations
- Modi-Putin discussions on strategic cooperation
- Putin-Xi coordination
- Russia-Iran relations
- India-Pakistan interaction
- SCO positions on Ukraine and the Middle East
- Regional counter-terrorism cooperation
- Transport and connectivity projects
- The proposed SCO Development Bank
- Pakistan’s incoming SCO chairmanship
A Defining Moment for the Organisation
The SCO enters its second quarter-century with a much larger membership and broader ambitions than it had when it was established.
Its members now span much of Eurasia and include several of the world’s largest economies and most influential political powers.
Yet the organisation must overcome major differences among its members if it wants to convert its size into lasting influence.
As Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Narendra Modi, Shehbaz Sharif and Masoud Pezeshkian gather in Bishkek, the SCO summit is emerging as a major test of Eurasian diplomacy. The meeting will not only mark 25 years of the organisation but could also reveal how China, Russia, India, Iran and other members intend to navigate an increasingly fragmented global order.
