Leaders of China, Russia and India are among heads of state meeting to counter US influence

This week, leaders from China, Russia, and India are joining heads of state at a summit in Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gathering, a forum that aims to counter U.S. global influence. The attendees include Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In addition to the official SCO sessions, there are several private meetings scheduled, such as a meeting between Putin and Xi on Monday, and talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday, the day of the formal SCO events.

The SCO was established in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries as a security forum. Over the years, the organization has expanded its membership, now comprising 10 nations: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Although the SCO's goals and programs are not clearly defined, its influence has grown alongside that of Russia and China, who have sought to promote it as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations like the G7.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently claimed that the organization has successfully "explored a new path for regional cooperation," with support from Russia. Beijing has consistently advocated for an alternative world order, further bolstering its partnership with Russia in promoting this vision.