INDIA'S PRESIDENCY OF SCO IN 2023 AND IRAN'S ENTRY

On September 15-16, the Council of Heads of State, the highest decision-making body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation met for their 22nd Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The Samarkand Summit was much discussed amidst the Russia-Ukraine conflict as well as the crisis across the Taiwan Strait.

- Vasu Sharma

Global politics is going through a phase of complexity as new forms of conflicts are emerging in Asia and Eurasia. The Samarkand Summit witnessed an expansion of its membership in Asia. Such tumultuous times and expansion of SCO prompt an examination of Iran’s entry into SCO, an assessment of the significance of India’s presidency of SCO in 2023, as well as the opportunities and challenges New Delhi would face.

Significance of India’s Presidency 

Until September 2023, India would be the President of the SCO. This rotational presidency is significant for India for three major reasons. First, from a regional perspective, amidst the tensions over the Sino-Indian border and politically unstable neighbourhood, being the first South Asian country host of SCO, how India would project itself would be significant for the region. Second, from a geopolitical perspective, New Delhi could be seen renewing its policy towards Central Asia which also implies a change in understanding of the extended territorial neighbourhood. Consequently, the upcoming presidency would be significant for New Delhi’s reach toward Central Asian countries. Third, the SCO presidency is preceded by India’s non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council and would be followed by India hosting the G-20 summit. Thus, the tenure will reflect any continuity or change in New Delhi’s understanding of multilateralism and its behaviour in international and regional organisations.

Expansion of SCO and Iran’s entry