Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

India's refusal to sign the joint declaration at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China has been a significant diplomatic development.

Why Did India Refuse to Sign the Joint Declaration?

1. Double Standard on Terrorism:

   • The joint declaration did not include a mention of the Pahalgam attack that occurred in India, yet it did reference militant activities in Balochistan.

   • India objected to the selective treatment of terrorism, stressing that the SCO should consistently address nations that promote cross-border terrorism.

2. Core Principles on Peace and Terrorism:

   • India maintains a non-negotiable stance that peace and terrorism cannot coexist. India has emphasized that this principle should be upheld even in multilateral forums such as the SCO.

India's Strategic Opportunities within the SCO

1. Geopolitical Outreach to Central Asia:

   • SCO offers a platform for India to strengthen ties with Central Asian Republics (CARs), aligning with India’s Connect Central Asia Policy.

2. Economic and Energy Cooperation:

   • Countries like Kazakhstan are key suppliers of resources like uranium, with Kazakhstan producing 43% of the world’s uranium. India can benefit from such economic and energy partnerships within the SCO framework.

3. Regional Connectivity:

   • India can use the SCO to promote initiatives like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), which facilitates trade between India, Russia, and Central Asia.

4. Diplomatic Engagement with Pakistan and China:

   • The SCO acts as a platform for dialogue between India and these two neighbors, despite ongoing tensions. It offers a diplomatic space for maintaining conversations, although India's concerns about China’s growing influence remain significant.

India’s Concerns Regarding the SCO

1. China’s Geo-Strategic Influence:

   • India is wary of China's attempts to turn the SCO into a China-dominated multilateral platform for its regional geo-economic and strategic interests, such as advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

2. SCO’s Expansion Dilemma:

   • The admission of Belarus into the SCO raises concerns about the dilution of the group's regional focus. Originally formed to focus on Central Asia, the expansion could cause the SCO to lose its core objectives and lead to members seeking alternative cooperation formats.

3. Effectiveness of SCO Decisions:

   • SCO's decisions often lack executive power, which has led critics to view it as a forum similar to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), where discussions are held, but actionable outcomes are limited.

4. Perception as an Anti-Western Bloc:

   • SCO's alignment with Russia, China, and Iran has led to its perception as a counterbalance to Western-led organizations. This is especially relevant with the growing geopolitical rifts between these countries and the West.

India’s Approach: Balancing Strategic Autonomy and Multilateral Engagement

1. Prioritizing National Interests:

   • At the SCO 2023 summit, India refused to sign the section that supported China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), clearly signaling its reluctance to endorse China’s strategic ambitions.

2. Selective Participation with Core Principles:

   • India actively participates in SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), coordinating counter-terrorism efforts, and also promotes development-oriented initiatives, such as cooperation in traditional medicine, startups, and innovation, which helps to balance India’s participation with its values.

3. Leveraging Relations with Russia:

   • India continues to maintain a close relationship with Russia, especially on core issues within the SCO framework, ensuring that its interests are represented without compromising on key principles.

Role of the SCO in the Global Multilateral Order

1. Global Reach and Economic Influence:

   • The SCO covers about 80% of the Eurasian landmass and represents 42% of the global population, giving it significant influence in global geopolitics. Its members contribute approximately 25% of global GDP.

2. Challenging Western Domination:

   • SCO is emerging as an alternative to Western-led multilateral organizations, aiming to promote the interests of non-Western countries, which has become more prominent with the ongoing geopolitical dynamics.

3. Security Engagement:

   • One of the key roles of the SCO is to address the security vacuum left by NATO's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The Afghanistan Contact Group (ACG) within the SCO was created in 2005 to maintain regional cooperation with Kabul.

Highlights of the SCO Summit 2024

1. New Membership:

   • Belarus became the 10th member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

   • The Indian External Affairs Minister held discussions with Belarusian counterparts to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Belarus.

2. Astana Declaration:

   • The 24th SCO Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan adopted the Astana Declaration, which included the approval of 25 strategic agreements covering:

     • Energy cooperation

     • Security initiatives

     • Trade and finance

     • Information security

   • The Summit also laid the foundation for the SCO Development Strategy until 2035, which included resolutions on:

     • Combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism

     • Anti-drug strategies

     • Energy cooperation and economic development

     • Protection of eco-tourism areas

3. Memorandum on Drug Trafficking:

   • The member states agreed to a memorandum to combat illicit drug trafficking.

   • An interaction plan on international information security was also signed.

4. India-China Relations:

   • On the margins of the summit, India’s External Affairs Minister and Chinese Foreign Minister held talks emphasizing the need for the complete disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

   • Both sides agreed to expedite efforts through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues in Eastern Ladakh.

5. Economic Growth & Global Partnership:

   • India highlighted its Make in India initiative, emphasizing its potential as a global economic growth engine.

   • India expressed its willingness to partner with other nations, especially those in the Global South, for capacity building and economic development.

6. Combatting Terrorism:

   • India’s External Affairs Minister reiterated the need for the global community to isolate countries that harbour terrorists or support terrorism.

   • India emphasized the foundational goal of the SCO being the fight against cross-border terrorism, with a focus on strengthening cooperation within the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).

   • India continues to be proactive in enhancing security cooperation through RATS, which includes counter-terrorism measures, intelligence sharing, and addressing drug trafficking.

7. Russian President’s Remarks:

   • The Russian President underscored the SCO’s role in promoting a fair, multipolar world order, countering the dominance of Western-led structures.

What is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?

• Origins:

  • The SCO originated from the Shanghai Five in 1996, initially comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.

  • It was formed to address the challenges posed by extremist religious groups and ethnic tensions in Central Asia following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

• Establishment:

  • The SCO was formally established on 15th June 2001 in Shanghai, adding Uzbekistan as a sixth member.

• Current Members:

  • Before Belarus’s inclusion, SCO had 9 members: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran.

  • Afghanistan and Mongolia hold Observer Status.

• Significance:

  • The SCO primarily focuses on security issues in Asia, with a key role in counter-terrorism efforts, economic cooperation, and regional stability.

  • Russia and China have positioned the SCO as an alternative to Western-dominated international organizations and as a counterbalance to the US's global influence.

• Global Impact:

  • The SCO represents 40% of the global population and accounts for over USD 23 trillion in global GDP.

Relevance of the SCO for India

1. Regional Cooperation:

   • SCO membership allows India to engage more deeply with Central Asia, enhancing relations since the region’s independence in 1991.

   • It also offers a platform for collaboration with major regional actors on shared security and economic concerns.

2. Counter-Terrorism:

   • The Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) under the SCO has played a critical role in counter-terrorism activities, including intelligence sharing and terrorist movement monitoring.

   • India has benefitted from enhanced security cooperation, particularly in combating cross-border terrorism.

3. Challenges for India:

   • While SCO membership offers regional engagement, India faces significant challenges in balancing its bilateral ties with China and Russia.

   • India has also expressed reservations over certain initiatives, such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and continues to be cautious about projects that may compromise sovereignty or strategic interests.

   • Pakistan remains a sensitive issue within the SCO framework, impacting India's stance on several initiatives and cooperation measures.

4. Economic and Strategic Autonomy:

   • India is working to ensure that its strategic autonomy remains intact while leveraging SCO membership for economic benefits and regional influence.

5. Diplomatic Engagement:

   • India also uses the SCO to engage diplomatically with China and Pakistan, despite ongoing tensions in bilateral relations, especially on issues like territorial disputes and cross-border terrorism.

Conclusion

India views the SCO as a vital platform for regional engagement, particularly in Central Asia, where it can benefit from both economic and diplomatic opportunities. However, India remains cautious of China’s dominant influence and continues to safeguard its strategic autonomy within the group. By selectively engaging in areas that align with its national interests and values, India manages to balance participation with its non-negotiable principles, especially on issues like terrorism and regional security.