The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers will be held on July 15 in Tianjin, China. The meeting will be chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from SCO member states, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Iran will attend the moot.
This session is part of the preparation for the upcoming SCO Heads of State Summit scheduled for later this year. Discussions will focus on regional security, counterterrorism cooperation, economic integration, and SCO expansion.
India-China Engagement
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend, marking his first visit to China since the 2020 border clashes in Ladakh. The visit is being closely watched for signs of any thaw in bilateral ties, though no bilateral meeting with Chinese leadership has been confirmed.
India recently refused to endorse a joint statement during the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Qingdao over Pakistan-related language on terrorism. New Delhi insisted on explicit references to cross-border terrorism, which were omitted.
Russia’s Position
Russia views the meeting as crucial for reinforcing the SCO’s role as a multipolar platform. According to a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will press for increased cooperation on regional security, sanctions circumvention, and trade in national currencies.
Pakistan’s Role
Pakistan is expected to push for recognition of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a regional connectivity project under the SCO framework.
Key Issues on the Agenda
Security Coordination: Amid instability in Afghanistan and rising regional militancy, member states will review cooperation under RATS.
Economic Connectivity: China is expected to renew its push for Belt and Road-linked infrastructure, though several states remain cautious due to rising debt risks.
SCO Expansion and Reform: With the admission of Iran and increased interest from other countries, members will discuss rules and timelines for new memberships.
Geopolitical Alignment: The grouping continues to present itself as an alternative to Western-led institutions, though internal divisions remain unresolved.
The SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting is taking place at a time of high regional tension. In May, India launched strikes inside Pakistani territory, claiming to target terrorist sites. Pakistan responded by downing Indian jets, including the latest Rafales. The conflict resulted in dozens of casualties on both sides and pushed the two nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of escalation.
Russia, China, Iran, and Pakistan, all SCO members, have taken strong positions against Israel’s operations in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians, and a two-state solution. The Gaza war has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Trump has sharply criticized regional blocs that challenge US dominance, most recently BRICS. He has threatened an additional 10 percent tariff on any country joining or supporting BRICS' “anti-American policies,” viewing their de-dollarization push as a threat to US hegemony.
At the same time, India and China remain locked in a tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control, with fresh skirmishes reported in eastern Ladakh in late June, further complicating diplomatic dynamics ahead of the SCO summit.By Atif Khan
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