Hello Reader
So, what came out of this year’s SCO Summit?
Quite a lot, and perhaps more importantly, a clearer sense of where the organization is heading.
Bishkek put security, energy, economics, and regional conflicts on the same table, raising a bigger question about what the SCO is becoming.
It’s easier to dismiss something that is hard to understand. And reading how the SCO Summit earlier this week was received by and covered in the Western world is now my case in point.
In 25 years of its life, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been dismissed and taken lightly just as many times as it has been acknowledged; perhaps more. But the giant stands its place, and there are even more countries who hope to hop along (coming to this later)
Of course 43% of the world’s population means I am speaking of one giant of a platform. Couple that with 23% of the global economy.
If I have to sum up the Summit (28 documents and a declaration), I will say Bishkek putting its whole weight behind a fund or say an SCO Bank will likely materialize sooner, perhaps under Pakistan’s chairmanship as it assumed the chair with a theme that literally says “turning vision into action”
The next best and noticeable thing that came out of the gathering was
- a clear cut rebuke of attacks on Iran, and
- a consensus that peace in West Asia is possible only with a “just settlement” of the Palestine issue
signed (the declaration) by all members, even India that visibly comes off as close to Israel.
Economic and energy strategies 2030 are another noteworthy point; more so because
- they are shared concerns and worries of all members in view of the Hormuz crisis and
- an emphasis on these gives SCO a visible economic dimension, and ignites questions over ‘security’ as the founding logic
The truth is, SCO by design is not limited to any one dimension of multilateral interaction between and among its members.
“Its strength lies primarily in creating a forum where countries with different political systems and sometimes conflicting interests can coordinate around common priorities.” (Here!)
It pushes partnership, not allyship.
It offers “normative space” in a chaotic and dwindling rules-based order.
It is powerful enough to function despite a paralyzing hard animosity (India, Pakistan).
It is proactively a stakeholder in a post-West order.
And by setting the ground right, SCO grows above the already existing infrastructure and not aiming at all times to build something new from scratch.
Put this way, it is an extension of the vision of just governance and inclusivity for the Global South, and its appeal certainly resonates.
Exhibit: Erdogan was taking a return flight from Bishkek when he dropped the hint. Turkiye would consider a “higher level” relationship with the SCO. Higher of course than its current dialogue partner status. And that, my friend, is a membership.
This is a NATO member. A founding member of the Makkah Defense Alliance too. As one security architecture crumbles, the new has to take its place. Xi, on his next stop after Bishkek, explicitly called for one.
So for all the dismissive commentaries, SCO has steadily readied itself for that moment.
And as the summit comes home this year, I cannot help but notice the cultural richness of the year-long “cultural capital” of the SCO world - Lahore!
To all the delegates who will touch down this year, better come prepared with a list of what to eat for the culinary experience will be unforgettable.
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Exclusive Interview with Sardar Masood Khan
Former Ambassador to US, China & UN
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1. SCO Leaders Sign Bishkek Declaration, 27 Documents
The SCO is moving from a security forum toward a broader institutional platform, with its latest agreements extending into AI, energy, climate, trade and connectivity.
2. Xi Calls For Greater Security, Fair Governance At SCO Summit
By pairing “universal security” with more equitable global governance, Beijing is positioning the SCO not merely as a regional security bloc, but as a voice in the debate over the international order.
3. Lahore Named SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2026-27
For Pakistan, Lahore’s new SCO status turns culture into a diplomatic asset, putting the country’s heritage at the center of engagement with a region that stretches from Central Asia to South Asia and beyond.
4. No Taliban At SCO As Afghanistan Security Remains Key Concern
The summit again underscored concerns over terrorism and regional stability while calling for an inclusive Afghan government, keeping political recognition separate from security engagement.
5. Putin Hails SCO As World’s Largest Regional Organization
The SCO’s real weight is no longer just geographic; its members collectively represent roughly half of humanity, giving Moscow a powerful platform for advocating a more plural international order.
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