The 2023 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders ' summit was launched today via video conference, and for the first time India will host this summit under her leadership.

 

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Edited by |Alexander Yaxina

 

Politic section -  CJ journalist

 

New Delhi – July,4,2023

 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his first speech to the international community since last month's Wagner group rebellion in Russia, said his country will continue to resist Western sanctions imposed on it as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian president called for strengthening trade relations between the SCO countries, and also supported the idea of using local currencies for commercial transactions – an idea seen as an attempt to ease Western sanctions on his country.

During the summit, Putin sent a defiant message to the West, saying: "Russia is steadfastly resisting and will continue to resist in the face of external sanctions, pressures and provocations, and will continue to develop as never before.

Since the short – lived Wagner group rebellion in late June, the Russian president has appeared in public several times, but this is the first time he has appeared with a group of international leaders.

"I thank my colleagues in the SCO countries who have shown their support for the steps taken by the Russian leadership to protect the constitutional order and the lives and security of citizens,"Putin said in a televised address from inside the Kremlin.

Putin added that more than 80 percent of trade between his country and China is carried out in the ruble and yuan currencies and away from the US dollar, urging WTO members to follow the same approach that exists between the two countries.

He also welcomed the request of Belarus - Russia's ally - to become a permanent member of the SCO next year.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the host of the summit, called on member states to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, telecommunications, as well as other sectors.

Modi did not directly mention the war in Ukraine, or China's hardline stance in the Indo-Pacific.

Historically, India has pursued a policy of neutrality, but now it is seeking to achieve a delicate balance on the diplomatic front due to its increasingly strong relations with the West.

A few days ago, the United States rolled out the red carpet for Modi, when it received him in Washington on a state visit - the highest level of diplomatic protocol that the United States agrees with visiting leaders.

Although the Indian prime minister spoke about regional security before the leaders of the Shanghai organization, he did not mention China - a neighbor that has long had hostile relations with India.

The West is increasingly looking at India as a counterweight to China, but India has not openly adopted this Western position openly, as it refrained from stating at the current summit.

Instead, the Indian prime minister urged the members of the organization to take decisive measures to combat terrorism, strengthen cooperation in combating the financing of terrorist activities.

All members of the organization agreed on the need to maintain stability in Afghanistan, after the US withdrawal and the return of the Taliban to power two years ago.

The joint statement of the organization – to be issued later - may give information on how the SCO countries aim to work together on Afghanistan.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is of great importance for Russia and China, after their relations with the West deteriorated.

Experts say that the potential and aspirations of the organization cannot be underestimated, although there are such more prominent forums as BRICS (an economic bloc that includes: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), the group of twenty and the group of seven.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization includes about 40 percent of the world's population, and more than 20 percent of the world's GDP comes from the organization's countries. The summit officially recognized Iran's full membership, and it will control about 20 percent of the world's oil reserves.

Iran's membership will strengthen the organization's energy file, but it will also anger Western capitals, as the SCO's agendas are in great conflict with other Western forums, it may be difficult for India to achieve a diplomatic balance between its various global partners.

But diplomats in India say that they are able to ensure the independence of their foreign policy without succumbing to one group or another.

The way Delhi conducts its diplomacy - and its disagreements with Russia, China and Pakistan in particular-will also have an impact on the future of the SCO.

 

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