Perspective: 24th SCO Summit

• 10 Jul 2024

For Prelims: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (Sco),  Energy, Trade, Information Security, Combating Terrorism, Separatism, Anti-Drug Strategy, Eco-Tourism, Cross Border Terrorism, Terrorism Financing, India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Chabahar Project, INSTC, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, Green Energy, Climate Change Mitigation, E20 National Strategy On Artificial Intelligence, ‘Ai For All’, Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (Rats), Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Illicit Drug Trade

For Mains: Significance of the SCO in Terms of India's strategic interests.

Why in News?

Recently, India attended the 24^th meeting of the Council of Head of States of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Astana, Kazakhstan.

• Bilateral meetings on the sidelines of SCO were also held with the members of SCO.

What are the Key Highlights of the 24th SCO Summit?

• New Membership:  Belarus has become the 10th member state of the SCO. The Indian External Affairs Minister met with Belarusian counterpart to strengthen bilateral ties.
• Astana Declaration: The 24th SCO Summit in Astana adopted the Astana Declaration and approved 25 strategic agreements on energy, security, trade, finance, and information security. 
• SCO Development Strategy: Members of the SCO adopted the SCO Development Strategy untill 2035, including resolutions on combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism, anti-drug strategy, energy cooperation, economic development, and cooperation in protected areas and eco-tourism. 
  • Commitments also included signing a memorandum to combat illicit drug trafficking and an interaction plan on international information security issues.

What are the Key Issues Addressed by India at SCO Summit, 2024?

• Rising Tensions and Global Concerns:
  • Ongoing conflicts and rising tensions worldwide strain international relations, eg. Russia-Ukraine conflict  and different stands taken by SCO members like India, China and Russia in this context make it difficult to deliberate in forums like SCO.
  • India emphased that the world should aim to mitigate consequences through finding common ground and cooperation.
• Combatting Terrorism
  • One of the priorities for SCO is combating cross border terrorism as unchecked terrorism poses major threats to global and regional peace.
  • India has emphasized that terrorism in any form cannot be justified and nations nurturing terrorists must be isolated.
  • India emphased on countering cross-border terrorism, terrorism financing, and youth radicalization in the region. For Example: Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS-SCO) mechanism  should be used for coordination and information sharing to combat these issues. 
• Addressing Climate Change
  • India reiterated the commitment to reduce emissions and adopting climate-resilient infrastructure. For Example: Platforms like Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) should be used to increase the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks, thereby ensuring sustainable development in the region.
  • Green Development Forum of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) aims to enhance cooperation among SCO countries in green energy, green industry, climate change mitigation and ecological protection, and to build a stronger consensus on green development can help in boosting initiatives like Global Biofuel Alliance and E20 initiative of India.
• Promoting Connectivity and Infrastructure
  • India emphased that robust connectivity is essential for economic development and trust-building.
    • India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project which was signed at the G20 Summit, Chabahar Project in Iran and INSTC Multimode Transit Route linking the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran and to northern Europe, can play pivotal role in this connectivity for India, Central Asia and Europe.
  • Serious deliberations are needed within SCO on connectivity and infrastructure projects as these are essential for mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
• Harnessing Technology for Societal Progress
  • 21^st century is characterized by technological advancements so group should focus on applying technology for societal welfare and progress.
    • India is among the countries to formulate a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and our commitment to ‘AI for All’ is also reflected in working within the SCO framework on a Roadmap on AI cooperation.
• Cultural Engagement with SCO
  • People-to-people diplomacy plays a crucial role in the cooperation between the SCO countries and serves as a bridge between nations by providing opportunities to develop and enrich diverse cultures and civilisations, and preserving folk traditions.
  • For instance: 
    • Over a hundred participants from the SCO practiced yoga at the event at the Secretariat of the SCO.
    • Also participation of young people in entrepreneurial activities through SCO Young Entrepreneurs Forum significantly contributes to deepening cooperation among member states.
    • To enhance people to people connection India as SCO host in 2023 organised SCO Millet Food Festival, SCO Film Festival and SCO Surajkund Craft Mela.

What is Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)?

• About:
  • The SCO originated from the "Shanghai Five" formed in 1996, consisting of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
  • SCO was established in 2001, in Shanghai, adding Uzbekistan as a sixth member.
  • SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization for promoting effective cooperation in -politics, trade & economy, research & technology and culture.
  • It’s a political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
  • The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
  • The group was expanded in 2017 when India and Pakistan became members.
  • Iran joined the group in 2023 and Belarus is 10th and the newest member.
  • SCO Secretariat is based in Beijing.
• Structure:
  • Heads of State Council: The supreme SCO body which decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States & international organisations, and considers international issues.
  • Heads of Government Council: Approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.
  • Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs: Considers issues related to day-to-day activities.
  • Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS): Established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.
• Significance:
  • The SCO covers 40% of the global population, nearly 30% of the global GDP and 60% of the area of Eurasia.
  • The SCO has a strategically important role in Asia due to its geographical significance - this enables it to control Central Asia and limit the American influence in the region.
  • Significance for India:
    • SCO provides a platform to  India to participate in a forum which enhances its scope of cooperation with Central Asian countries.
    • It also helps in maintaining communication with major actors in the region on common security issues through RATS which is a permanent structure within the SCO.
    • Central Asia being reservoir of Uranium and green energy sources, SCO provides opportunity for India to foster cooperation for energy security.

What are the Challenges Associated with SCO?

• Geopolitical Challenges: In the given global scenario when geopolitics are dysfunctional, given the coalition of countries in SCO where members have differences, its relevance is being called into question.
• China -Pakistan-Russia Angle: Presence of China and Pakistan’s inclusion in SCO poses potential difficulties for India.
  • India has always opposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as it says the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor violates India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
  • India’s ability to assert itself would be limited and it may have to play second fiddle since China and Russia are co-founders of SCO and its dominant powers.
• Expansion: If any platform expands the original mandate of the grouping tends to dilute as new members come up with their own priorities.
• Counter Terrorism: Despite counter terrorism as one of the mandates of SCO it has attained little success in countering cross border terrorism and illicit drug trade.
  • The Golden Crescent which comprises the mountainous peripheries of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan and recent enhanced illicit drug trade by Taliban poses challenge in the region.
• Anti-West Image of SCO: India may also have to either dilute its growing partnership with the West or engage in a delicate balancing act as SCO has traditionally adopted an anti-Western posture.
  • Furthermore, some SCO member states used Afghanistan and the Taliban for their own geo-economic and geo-strategic interests against the West and also against each other.

Way Forward

• Adressing Geopolitical Challenges: Underlining the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, India has  been emphasising on translating these sentiments for global as well as regional cooperation.
• Mutual Cooperation: Members of SCO need to cooperate on issues of terrorism, illicit drug trade, people to people connect and securing economic interest by sidelining therir bilateral issues.
• Expansion: Given the expansion of  SCO there is a need to ensure that the original mandate of the grouping does not dilute and members should cooperate on the goals and priorities of the grouping.
• Strengthening Counter Terrorism Mechanism: From its inception as a full member, India not only supported strengthening the core agenda of SCO on terrorism and radicalism but also has urged the members not to hesitate in condemning such nations and emphasized the importance of consistency in addressing these critical issues.
• Evolution of Organisation: Evolution of any organisation is necessary as per need and time to avoid redundancy. Given this fact SCO should evolve to accommodate the needs of the region and its members.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. The term ‘Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership’ often appears in the news in the context of the affairs of a group of countries known as? (2016)

(a) G20 

(b) ASEAN

(c) SCO 

(d) SAARC

Ans: (b)

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Mains:

Q. Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India? (2021)