China, Russia and India leaders attend Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are slated to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, this week. The meeting brings together leaders from the ten member states—Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan—along with a number of dialogue partners.

The agenda includes bilateral talks on the sidelines, such as a meeting between Putin and Xi on Monday and a discussion between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday. Analysts note that the summit provides a platform for members to reinforce ties amid strained relations with Western countries.

Founded in 2001 as a security forum by China, Russia and four Central Asian nations, the SCO has expanded its membership and scope over the past 25 years. China’s foreign ministry recently said the organization has "successfully explored a new path for regional cooperation," emphasizing its role as an alternative to Western-led groups.

Experts say the gathering is likely to be more about signaling than concrete policy outcomes for some participants. Dinakar Peri, a security studies fellow at Carnegie India, said the SCO gives India a seat at the table to monitor regional dynamics and protect its interests, even if it does not dominate the agenda. Turkey, a dialogue partner since 2012, also seeks to use the forum to balance its NATO ties with broader Eurasian influence.

While the SCO is not a unified political or military bloc, the summit offers member states an opportunity to demonstrate continued engagement on the global stage.