RUSSIA: Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed a virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, addressing the Russian mutiny. He supported SCO trade agreements in local currencies, which were viewed as an effort to evade sanctions.
Under India’s leadership the SCO summit of 2023 is being held digitally. Putin made use of the opportunity to send a defiant message to the West, asserting that Russia is able to fend off all external pressures, sanctions, and provocations while also advancing like never before.
Putin attended a summit with world leaders, thanking his colleagues from the SCO countries for supporting Russian leadership’s actions to protect the constitutional order and citizens’ life and security. He emphasized that roubles and yuan account for over 80% of trade between Chinese and Russian citizens and urged other SCO members to adopt similar practices. Putin also welcomed Belarus’ bid to join the SCO permanently as a close partner of Russia.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged SCO members to boost commerce, connectivity, and technological cooperation. However, he neglected the Ukraine conflict and China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. India’s diplomatic situation was delicate due to its non-aligned status and growing West relations.
Despite discussing regional security, Modi did not address China, a neighbour with tense relations. Tensions still exist on the disputed border between India and China following deadly battles in 2020.
India’s Prime Minister asked members to work together to combat cross-border terrorism. Some countries utilise cross-border terrorism as a policy tool, providing safe haven for terrorists; the SCO should not be afraid to censure such countries, according to Modi.
Pakistan accuses India of failing to defend minority Muslim rights. Modi’s government has consistently denied that it is failing to defend minorities’ rights in India.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasizes the importance of maintaining regional peace and security, urging SCO members to strengthen unity and trust. The SCO states are in agreement on maintaining stability in Afghanistan after the Taliban took control. .
The SCO was established in 2001 by Russia, China and four Central Asian nations, to curb Western influence in the region. In 201, India and Pakistan joined the group.
Its potential is undeniable, as Russia and China’s relations with the West have worsened. With over 20% of the world’s GDP, the SCO accounts for 40% of the world’s population and 20% of the world’s oil reserves, including Iran.
Iran’s full membership in the SCO’s energy portfolio benefits its energy portfolio, but Western capitals may be upset.
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