| GS Paper 2: India and its neighbourhood relations, Regional groupings, and Important international institutions. |
Why in the news?
Recently, Pakistan extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the October meeting of the SCO’s Council of Heads of Government in Islamabad.
About SCO :
- “Shanghai Cooperation Organization” is the acronym for SCO. Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan formed this intergovernmental political, economic, and security partnership in 2001. In 2001, the first summit took place in Shanghai, China.
- The SCO seeks to increase mutual assistance and collaboration in sectors like commerce, investment, energy, transportation, and security.
- The SCO’s basic principle is the Shanghai Spirit. Mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, tolerance for cultural variety, and the goal of shared progress among SCO members are all important considerations.
- Russian and Chinese are the official working languages of the SCO Secretariat.
The SCO’s primary goals are to:
o Improve ties among its member states.
o Encourage collaboration in the fields of science, technology, education, energy, tourism, energy-related industries, economics, trade, and environmental protection.
o Preserve stability, security, and peace in the region.
o Establish a fair and democratic global political and economic system.
Shanghai Cooperation Organization-
Composition :
- Since 2001, SCO has added more members, and as of right now, there are ten member states.
- In 1996: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan formed the “Shanghai Five.”
- 2001: The Shanghai Five were renamed the SCO following the addition of Uzbekistan.
- 2015: The SCO decided to admit Pakistan and India as full members in Ufa, Russia.
- June 2016: The formal process of India and Pakistan becoming full members of the SCO began when they signed the memorandum of commitments in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- 2017: India and Pakistan become full members of the SCO in Astana.
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Members Of SCO |
Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan |
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Observers Of SCO |
Afghanistan(inactive) and Mongolia |
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Dialogue Partners |
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey |
- 2021: Iran’s admission as a full member of the SCO was declared.
- 2024 : Belarus has also become its member recently.
SCO Organizational Structure
The SCO consists of several internal organizations:
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The Council of Heads of State |
The heads of state of each of the SCO’s member nations make up this group, which is the highest decision-making body. It convenes once a year to determine the organization’s overarching strategic direction. |
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The Council of Heads of Government |
• Holds yearly summits where members address matters of multilateral cooperation. • Is the second-highest council within the organization. . |
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The Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs |
• Is in charge of organizing the foreign policy of the organization and is made up of the foreign ministers of each of the member nations. |
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The Сouncil of National Coordinators |
● Key body coordinating and managing the SCO’s current activities. ● Arranges the required setups for the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Heads of Government, and the Council of Heads of State.
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The Secretariat |
Situated in Beijing, it is the primary permanent executive body of the SCO and serves as its administrative branch, coordinating and carrying out the organization’s decisions. The Secretary-General, who is chosen by the Heads of State Council and nominated by the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, is in charge of the Secretariat.
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The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) |
RATS is based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and is in charge of organizing member nations’ efforts to oppose terrorism, separatism, and extremism. |
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The SCO Business Council |
• Is in charge of encouraging investment and economic cooperation among member nations and is composed of delegates from the business communities of each member nation. |
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The SCO Interbank Consortium |
It consists of the central banks from each of the member nations and is in charge of fostering financial cooperation between them. |
Shanghai Cooperation Organization :
Significance-
- Area of Cooperation: The SCO has primarily addressed concerns of regional security, fightinx separatist movements of ethnic or religious nature, and advancing regional development.
- Supporting a sizable population and worldwide GDP: It encompasses 22% of the world’s land area, 40% of the world’s population, and over 20% of the global GDP.
- Strategic significance: The SCO might be a driving force behind regional integration in Asia and the advancement of cross-border stability. The SCO’s initiatives may also promote better connections across its service region.
Strong defence against drug trafficking and terrorism: It has prioritized not only counterterrorism but also economic cooperation, military cooperation, and drug trafficking. - Compared to the QUAD: SCO has demonstrated a significantly higher ability to promote common military and security objectives through a variety of initiatives, such as all-member “Peace Mission” drills.
What is the importance of SCO for India?
- Counterterrorism: Given its protracted battle with Pakistan and the growing threat of terrorism in the area, India places a high priority on counterterrorism and security cooperation, which is the emphasis of the SCO.
- Stability in the region: India, a SCO member, can support the preservation of security and stability in the region, both in Central Asia and beyond.
- Connectivity: The SCO has placed a strong emphasis on infrastructure development and connectivity, which is consistent with India’s own goals of strengthening infrastructure domestically and with its neighbours.
- Economic cooperation: India will benefit from increased economic cooperation with member nations thanks to the SCO, which may open up new markets, technological avenues, and investment opportunities.
- Multilateral diplomacy: India may further its relationship with member nations and engage in multilateral diplomacy by using the SCO as a forum.
- Strengthening ties with Central Asia: India’s Connect Central Asia policy might be advanced through the SCO.
What are the challenges for India in SCO?
- Maintaining a balance in relations with China and Russia: India, a member of the Quad, must maintain a balance in its relations with these two powerful nations, as their regional and global agendas differ. This is necessary for India’s involvement in the SCO.
- Handling concerns about regional security: India’s membership in the SCO will present a challenge in working with other members to solve security challenges like extremism, separatism, and terrorism.
- Handling relations with Pakistan: Because of their complicated history of hostility, India will face several difficulties in managing its relations with Pakistan.
- Ensuring economic benefits: A number of concerns, including market access, infrastructure, and connectivity, will need to be addressed as part of India’s economic integration with the SCO.
- Preserving India’s strategic autonomy: As the pioneer of the non-alignment movement, India must strike a balance between its foreign policy commitments to the SCO and its strategic autonomy.
- Sovereignty issue: Although India has expressed its disapproval of the Belt and Road Initiative, the other SCO countries have welcomed the Chinese initiative.
- Limited bilateral trade with SCO nations: In comparison to China’s trade with Russia and Central Asia, India’s trade with these two regions is extremely minimal.
How can India contribute significantly to the SCO?
- Chance to host the summit in 2023: If India wins, it will assume the SCO’s rotational chairmanship and host the summit in 2023. India is gradually climbing the international leadership ladder both diplomatically and strategically.
- Preferring national currencies for trade settlement: To lessen reliance on the US dollar and lower price volatility, India should advocate for increased bilateral trade and trade settlement in national currencies.
- Towards the Asian Century: Given that East Asia is set to take the lead in global economic development, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) presents a favourable opportunity for India’s trade connections in the area.
- Adhering to the dialogue process: Talking freely and diplomatically with other nations is a better way to resolve conflicts or tensions than isolating oneself or other nations.
- Asian NATO: The Indian government has continuously emphasized the significance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), also known as “Asian NATO,” even though it does not require security alliances.
- Combating terrorism: Tight collaboration with SCO will bolster efforts against a variety of threats, including organized crime, drug trafficking, extremism, and terrorism.
- Tourism: Raising understanding of the cultures we share can contribute to an increase in travel.
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