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

This past Monday, leaders from China, Russia, and India convened with other heads of state in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the inaugural meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO is a regional security forum aimed at countering US global influence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi were present at the summit. During the event, Putin met privately with both Xi and Modi, discussing their respective countries' diplomatic ties.

Russia's extended involvement in the Ukraine war and Iran's ongoing conflict with the US and Israel prompted the SCO members to strengthen their relationships with non-Western partners. India expressed support for ending the Ukrainian conflict and emphasized the need for a cessation of hostilities.

The SCO was established in 2001 by China, Russia, and four Central Asian countries. Currently, it comprises 10 nations: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The SCO is primarily a security-based organization, but its goals and programs remain unclear, and its influence is still growing.

Although the SCO is not a formal political or military alliance, its members often have conflicting interests. For India, the SCO represents a platform for regional diplomacy and a way to project its influence amidst shifting global power dynamics.