SCO – INTERNATIONAL
News: India to host SCO summit as Chair in July
What is in the news?
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India will host the 22nd
summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), for the first time under
its chairmanship, in a virtual format in July.
Key takeaways from the news:
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Heads of state of all
member-countries, including Russia, China and Pakistan, have been invited.
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In addition to
member-countries such as China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, India has invited
Iran, Belarus and Mongolia as Observer States.
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As per SCO tradition,
Turkmenistan has also been invited as the guest of the Chair. Heads of the two
SCO Bodies, the Secretariat and the SCO RATS will also be present.
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Heads of six
international and regional organizations — the UN, ASEAN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU and
CICA — have also been invited.
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India has named the
upcoming summit ‘Towards a SECURE SCO’.
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SECURE”,
an acronym coined by Prime Minister Modi at the 2018 SCO Summit. stands for Security; Economy and Trade; Connectivity; Unity; Respect for
Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity; and Environment.
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India has set up “new pillars” of cooperation within the
bloc:
○ Startups and Innovation;
○ Traditional Medicine;
○ Digital Inclusion;
○ Youth Empowerment;
○ Shared Buddhist Heritage.
Importance of SCO to India:
1. Central Asia relationship:
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SCO allows India to
deepen its strategic reach in Central Asia. India already has substantial soft
power potential (Buddhist linkages,
Bollywood movies etc.) in Central
Asia, which it can exploit through SCO.
2. Energy security:
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India’s membership of SCO
can boost energy security by providing access to mineral and energy resources
of the Central Asian countries.
3. Market for export:
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The membership, with its
emphasis in trade relations, provides an inroad for the Indian investors to
explore the untapped market potential in the Central Asian region.
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For
example, FICCI hosted the SCO Business Conclave.
4. Forum for bilateral talks:
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SCO can provide a
platform to discuss bilateral issues with Pakistan and China.
5. Combat terrorism:
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SCO can play a pivotal
role in combating terrorism, extremism and radicalization through its RATS
structure.
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For example, the Dushanbe declaration, aims towards regional
stability.
6. Connectivity to Eurasia:
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India’s presence in the
SCO will help in India’s aim to link itself to the larger Eurasian region, and
to Europe via an INSTC. Thus, boosting connectivity in the region.
7. Multilateral forum:
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Strong engagement with
SCO is a great example of India's 'MULTIPLE
ENGAGEMENT' foreign policy.
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Earlier it was an
organization of a particular region but now the addition of Iran has added
importance to this organization.
8. Drug
trafficking:
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Most of the members are
located in between two dry trafficking regions, the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent; this forum will be useful
to combat drug trafficking in the region.
Problems of India with SCO members:
1. Difference in priorities:
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India is not on the same
page as most SCO countries when it comes to dealing with the Taliban- shut down
its embassy, and only engage Taliban to ensure no terrorism spillover.
2. Belt and Road Initiative:
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India is not a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and
does not sign on to the paragraph in the joint declaration that deals with the
BRI. Tensions between India and Pakistan mean India is not part of any of the
connectivity discussions whereas other SCO countries are working on BRI, Trans
Afghan railroad, CPEC etc.
3. Cross border terrorism:
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India blames Pakistan for
cross-border terrorism into India, as well as in providing shelter and safe
haven to terror groups that have attacked Afghanistan, including the Taliban
itself.
4. Border clash with China:
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Chinese army's
transgression in the northern border of India in Ladakh region.
5. QUAD vs SCO Factor:
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China's one China policy
and its recent military exercises in Taiwan strait is against QUAD where India
is a member.
6. Gwadar port:
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Pakistan and China's
Gwadar port is a main security threat to India.
7. China's veto on Indian initiative:
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China's refusal of India's
resolution to add Masjid Hussain in
the world terrorist list.
8. Support Military rule in Myanmar:
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The two important
countries in the sco Russia and China are having close relationship with
Myanmar where the military took over the administration from the elected
government but QUAD had condemned the coup.
9. Anti-West” forum:
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SCO is increasingly seen
as an “anti-West” forum and entry of Iran in SCO has made the situation
difficult for India. The induction of Iran will only strengthen this image of
the SCO.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Balanced relationship:
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India should maintain a balanced
relationship with SCO and Western countries.
2. Boosting bilateral relationship:
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India should develop
cordial relationships with all the SCO countries.
3. Counterterrorism and Security Cooperation:
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India should actively
engage with SCO members to address shared security concerns, particularly in
the areas of counterterrorism, countering extremism, and ensuring regional
stability.
4. Expand connectivity:
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India should conceive
creative measures that enable Indian corporate to expand its footprint in the region’s markets.
5. Soft power diplomacy:
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There is a need to give
more focus on humanitarian ties. Member States are working fruitfully in the
field of education, health, culture,
tourism and youth contacts and the cooperation should be enhanced further.
SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION:
About:
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It is a permanent
intergovernmental international organization. It was created in 2001.
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The SCO Charter was
signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
Permanent Bodies:
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SCO Secretariat in
Beijing.
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Executive Committee of
the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
Members:
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Kazakhstan,
China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.
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Iran
is set to become a permanent member of the SCO in 2023.