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Diplomacy
CommentAsia
Adriel Kasonta
Adriel Kasonta

Opinion | How SCO’s growing credibility reflects the emerging multipolar world order

  • The SCO’s expansion and cooperation efforts are cementing its standing as a credible multilateral platform focused on maintaining security, stability and development in Eurasia
  • The Samarkand summit should also be seen as a step towards a more inclusive and diverse global governance model

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From the left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif pose for a group photo before the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on September 16 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo: Kremlin/dpa
Adriel Kasonta

Recently, the eyes of the world turned to the ancient city of Samarkand, located in a large oasis in Uzbekistan’s Zerrafshan River valley. This was the venue for the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in three years to be held entirely offline, bringing together the leaders of 14 major Eurasian countries.

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Established in 2001 by China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the SCO has grown to become the world’s largest regional organisation, spanning 60 per cent of Eurasia, home to more than 3 billion people and accounting for a quarter of the global economy – with realistic potential to reach 35 per cent or more, given the interest it is attracting.

The organisation’s decision last year to launch the procedure to admit Iran was arguably the most critical development in its expansion. This year, Iran was welcomed as a permanent member after it signed a memorandum of obligations. Although the ratification of documents is expected to take until next year, Iran was admitted into members-only meetings at the summit.
After Iran’s success, Belarus has applied for full SCO membership and Nato member Türkiye is reportedly considering doing the same.

On top of that, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt have been granted SCO dialogue partner status, and the procedure has been launched for the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, the Maldives and Myanmar to become dialogue partners. The SCO also signed memorandums of understanding with Unesco, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, and the League of Arab States.

The SCO’s expansion and its attempts to seek cooperation with other international bodies are strengthening its potential. It is also cementing its standing as a credible multilateral platform focused on maintaining security, stability and development in Eurasia, as well as contributing to the development of a global governance model that is more inclusive and diverse.

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