Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)
Why it Matters?
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's visit to China for the SCO Defence Ministers' meet marks a significant step in post-Galwan normalization, amid ongoing regional security dialogues and evolving India-China-Russia dynamics.
What You Should Know?
SCO is a Eurasian regional grouping founded in 2001 at the Shanghai Summit by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
The guiding principle of the SCO is the "Shanghai Spirit", which upholds mutual trust, equality, respect for civilizational diversity, and shared development.
The SCO aims to strengthen mutual trust, good-neighbourliness, and cooperation among member states, particularly in areas such as trade, energy, education, and security.
SCO has 10 full members: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, Pakistan, Iran (2023), and Belarus (2024).
It includes 3 observer states and 6 dialogue partners, expanding its strategic engagement globally.
The Secretariat is headquartered in Beijing, China, serving as the administrative hub.
The official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian, signifying the dominant influence of its founding members in communication and proceedings.
The SCO is governed by the Council of Heads of State, its supreme decision-making body that meets annually to set strategic direction and address key geopolitical issues.
It is supported by the Council of Heads of Government, which also meets once a year to focus on economic strategies, priority areas of cooperation, and approving the SCO budget.
The organization operates through two permanent institutions: the Secretariat located in Beijing, and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent, which together manage coordination and counterterrorism efforts.