SCO leaders gather in Bishkek as Russia and China push multipolar agenda
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to attend a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, marking the bloc's 25th anniversary. The gathering will include leaders from Iran, India, Pakistan, and several Central Asian states, with discussions expected to focus on countering Western influence. Putin is scheduled for separate bilateral meetings with Iran's president and Xi, amid heightened tensions over the Ukraine war and US-Iran conflict.
The SCO summit marks the bloc's 25th anniversary, bringing together roughly a dozen heads of state in Bishkek. Beyond its ten full members—including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and four Central Asian states—the organization counts 15 dialogue partners such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, plus Afghanistan and Mongolia as observer countries. Its founding declaration explicitly states the group is not an alliance directed against other states.
Putin's schedule includes separate bilateral talks with Iran's President Pezeshkian and China's Xi Jinping. The meetings follow a rare Moscow visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, with US media speculating about discussions on Ukraine and Iran. The summit occurs amid fresh US secondary sanctions targeting Iran's trading partners in gold, technology, aviation, and maritime sectors, with China—a major Iranian oil importer—vowing to firmly defend its interests.
This summit could signal how non-Western powers coordinate responses to US sanctions and trade pressure. Member states facing real wars or tariff disputes may find common ground in economic cooperation, potentially reshaping global trade patterns. The gathering may also influence regional security dynamics in Central Asia, where Russia and China compete for influence. Observers could watch whether the bloc's stated non-alliance stance holds while members deepen military and economic ties.