21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

• SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation of Eurasian Nations with a secretariat in Beijing.
  • They represent 40% of the world population and approximately 20% of World GDP along with about 22% of the world landmass.
• It is a political, economic and military organisation that aims at maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.
• The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese.
• It currently has 8 members with the latest being India and Pakistan who were made members in 2017.
  • Note: Turkmenistan is not a party to SCO.
• There are 4 Observer States and multiple Dialogue Partners.

Source: SilkRoadBriefing

Origin: Journey from Shanghai Five to SCO to the inclusion of India and Pakistan

• Shanghai Five
  • Shanghai Five emerged in 196 from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.
  • Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
  • The aim was to ensure stability along the borders.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
  • With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
  • The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
  • It is a statutory document that outlines the organisation’s goals and principles, as well as its structure and core activities.
• India and Pakistan
  • India and Pakistan both were initially observer states.
  • Both were given full membership in 2017.

Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

• Heads of State Council
  • It is the supreme SCO body that decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations.
    • It also considers contemporary international issues.
• Heads of Government Council
  • It approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
• Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs 
  • It considers issues related to day-to-day activities.
• Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS)
  • It was established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• SCO Secretariat 
  • It is based in Beijing. 
  • It provides informational, analytical & organisational support.

Importance of SCO for India

• Regional Integration
  • SCO can help in achieving regional integration, promote connectivity and stability across borders.
  • Further, it also helps India to have a multilateral talk with friends like Russia and adversaries like China and Pakistan.
• Regional Connectivity
  • Although India opposes the Border and Road Initiative due to CPEC, it understands the importance of connectivity with Central Asian Nations.
  • With Afghanistan and Pakistan are adverse as of now, SCO can help in connectivity with Central Asia.
• Security
  • RATS can help India to improve its counterterrorism abilities by working toward intelligence sharing, law enforcement and developing best practices and technologies.
  • Through the SCO, India can also work on anti-drug trafficking and small arms proliferation.
• Challenges of terrorism and radicalisation.
  • The whole of Central Asia including is aware of the Taliban and ISKP in Afghanistan which mandates regional cooperation.
• Geopolitical Advantage
  • Central Asia is a part of India’s Extended Neighbourhood.
    • And SCO provides India with an opportunity to pursue the “Connect Central Asian Policy”.
  • It will also help India to have a check on the ever-growing influence of China in Eurasia.

Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO)

• It is an intergovernmental military alliance (6 countries) led by Russia.
  • It was formed amongst the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and initially was the Collective Security Treaty (CST).
• It came into effect in 2002. 
• Its origin can be traced to the Collective Security Treaty, 1992 (Tashkent Treaty). 
• Its headquarter is located in Moscow, Russia.
• Members
  • Armenia
  • Belarus
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Russia
  • Tajikistan
    • Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan joined but left CSTO.
    • Uzbekistan would join the GUAM group, established by Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova as a balance towards Russian influence in the region.