News Highlights
Iran and Belarus are likely the two newest additions to the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
- The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
- It’s a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation aiming to maintain the region’s peace, security, and stability.
- China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia made up the Shanghai Five before the SCO was founded in 2001.
- The Shanghai Five became known as the SCO after Uzbekistan joined the group in 2001. Pakistan and India joined in 2017.
- Beijing-based SCO Secretariat offers organisational, analytical, and informational support.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and India
- At a summit in Astana on 9 June 2017, India formally became a full member of the SCO.
Significance of SCO to India
- Market access
- The SCO can be used as a route to access the markets of the member countries and other Central Asian countries for India’s information technology, telecommunication, banking, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Energy security
- The Central Asian Regions (CAR) and Russia is richly endowed with vital mineral and natural resources.
- Interacting and expansion of the SCO will ensure the energy security of India.
- Potential Free Trade Agreement(FTA)
- The members can work together to formulate a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.
- It will enhance India’s export potential and reduce the Current Account deficit (CAD)
- Project push
- India’s pending energy projects include the TAPI pipeline (The Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India) and IPI (Iran-Pakistan_India) pipeline.
- These projects are stalled due to Pakistan and solving these issues amicably using the SCO platform.
- Connect Central Asia Policy
- India aims at political, security, economic and cultural connections with Central Asian Countries.
- It is also in line with India’s principle of “Extended Neighborhood.”
Challenges for India at SCO
- One Belt One Road(OBOR) initiative of China
- India is the only country in SCO not to join OBOR
- China may use the SCO to put more diplomatic pressure on India to join OBOR.
- Trust deficit
- The growing closeness of Russia and China adds to India’s difficulties due to the SCO’s China-Pakistan axis.
- This puts India at the risk of being isolated from the organisation.
- Definition of terrorism
- India’s definition of terrorism differs from that of SCO under RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure).
- India points to state-sponsored cross-border terrorism, but for SCO, terrorism coincides with regime destabilisation.
- Lack of connectivity with Central Asia and beyond
- The strategic denial of direct land connectivity between India and Afghanistan and beyond by Pakistan.
- India’s bilateral trade with Central Asia stands at about $2 billion against over $50 billion from China.
- Relation with the United States of America (USA)
- The vision of SCO shared by Russia and China involves a “new order” aimed at the west, which may impact India’s relations with the USA.
- SCO is seen as a counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Way forward
- Focus on operationalising the International North-South Transport Corridor ( INSTC) is needed.
- This will pave the way for enlarging Central Asia’s economic clout, making India indispensable in the region.
- Constructively engage Pakistan
- Since India and Pakistan are members of SCO, they use this platform to resolve bilateral issues constructively.
- Use soft powers of India.
- India-Russia diplomatic relations and India’s cultural and historical connection with the Central Asian Regions could be leveraged to promote India’s interest in the SCO.
- Revitalise connectivity projects.
- The opening of Chabahar port and entry into the Ashgabat agreement should be utilised for a more substantial presence in Eurasia.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu