Bishkek: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to arrive in Kyrgyzstan for a pivotal two-day summit, aiming to bolster a regional bloc as a counterweight to Western influence. The summit, which will also see the participation of leaders from Iran and India, is scheduled to take place amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, as well as escalating tensions with the West.
According to France24.com, the summit in Bishkek marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a group that unites Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries, and Moscow-aligned Belarus. The SCO has gained momentum in recent years under the leadership of Moscow and Beijing, advocating for a multipolar world and presenting a united front against Western policies.
The meeting occurs against the backdrop of Russia's prolonged involvement in Ukraine and the ongoing war between Washington and Tehran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will represent Iran at the summit. Alongside Putin, Xi, and Pezeshkian, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov.
In addition to the plenary session, Putin is anticipated to engage in bilateral talks with leaders, including Iran's Pezeshkian and China's Xi, as confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov. Russia and Iran have significantly strengthened their military and economic ties during the Ukraine conflict, both being among the most sanctioned nations globally.
The strategic meeting follows a rare visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, with speculations suggesting discussions on Ukraine and Iran with Russian officials. The SCO, historically focused on economic issues, now includes 15 dialogue partners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, alongside observer countries Afghanistan and Mongolia. Despite its founding declaration stating it is "not an alliance directed against other states," the SCO has witnessed anti-Western rhetoric from Putin and Xi in past summits.
The current summit unfolds amidst ongoing conflicts and trade tensions, with the US imposing secondary sanctions on Iran's trading partners in various sectors and threatening sanctions on Iran's allies. In response, China, a significant importer of Iranian oil, vowed to "firmly defend" its interests. Despite Iran's longstanding sanctions since the 1979 revolution, President Pezeshkian acknowledged the nation's economic challenges.
Mohammad Hassan Najmi, an international relations expert, noted that Iran views its membership in alliances like the SCO as a potential means to bypass US and European sanctions. However, the tangible benefits remain uncertain, as these alliances have seldom resolved Iran's crises in challenging times. While the SCO claims to represent a significant portion of the global population and GDP, internal disagreements persist, notably between Russia and China over influence in Central Asia, and between China and India or Pakistan due to strained relations.
