Why in news?
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Pakistan will host the 2027 summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and has begun preparations in Islamabad. The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 summit scheduled in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Background
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental organisation that promotes political, economic and security cooperation across Eurasia. It evolved from the Shanghai Five mechanism (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) established in 1996 to resolve border disputes. The SCO was formally founded on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai; its charter was signed in St Petersburg in 2002 and came into force in September 2003. The organisation is headquartered in Beijing and operates a Regional Anti‑Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent.
Membership and rotation
- Members: The SCO currently has ten full members — China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observer states.
- Rotation principle: Chairmanship rotates annually among member states according to the Russian alphabet. The country holding the chair hosts the Council of Heads of State summit for that year.
Functions and significance
- Security cooperation: Member states coordinate to counter terrorism, separatism and extremism, share intelligence and conduct joint exercises through RATS.
- Economic collaboration: The SCO fosters trade, investment and connectivity projects, such as proposals for an SCO Development Bank and Business Council.
- Cultural ties: Education exchanges, youth festivals and cultural programmes promote understanding among diverse nations.
- Diplomatic platform: The organisation offers a forum for dialogue on Afghanistan, climate action and regional stability, often balancing interests of major powers like China, Russia and India.
Hosting the summit in 2027 will give Pakistan an opportunity to showcase its diplomatic role and infrastructure. For India, active participation in the SCO is vital to engage with Eurasian neighbours, address security concerns and advance connectivity initiatives while navigating complex bilateral relations within the grouping.