SCO summit challenges US but its reach is murky

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of eight other nations are set to meet in northern China for the latest summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in a possible challenge to often incoherent approaches by the United States to trade and regional conflicts.

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The IO-member group that will gather on Sunday and Monday in the port city of Tianjin has grown in size and influence over the past 24 years, even while its goals and programs remain murky and name recognition low. Some call it the scariest grouping you have never heard of.

The full membership includes Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Originally seen as a foil to US influence in Central Asia, the original organization picked up four new members with the addition of India and Pakistan in 2017, Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.

Some of those are clear foes of the West, especially Iran and close Russian ally Belarus. Others including India, China and Russia have a more nebulous relationship, either because of Washington's wobbly stance on Russia’s war with Ukraine or because of chaos surrounding US. tariffs that have upended key trading relationships with countries such as China and India.

The SCO’s two-day summit may shed more light on issues surrounding the group's activities and intentions.