- Prelims: Current events of international importance, Regional forums(SCO, NATO, etc)
- Mains GS Paper II: Significance of SCO for Asia and India, effect of policies of developed and developing countries on India.
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
- The visit to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan this week by the Prime Minister is certainly a time of lingering strains like Covid-19 or Ukraine war.
- Book: The India Way(by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar): This is a game best played on the front foot, appreciating that progress on any one front strengthens that on all others.”(about alignment)
INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE
Context
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):
- SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
- It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
- It was created in 2001. The SCO Charter was signed in 2002, and entered into force in 2003.
- India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
- On 17th September, 2021, it was announced that Iran would become a full member of the SCO.
Objectives:
Key present Issues:
- COVID-19 pandemic
- The Russian war in Ukraine
- Upcoming Chinese Party Congress
- Floods in Pakistan
Balancing the blocs:
- Balancing nature: India’s membership of the SCO and BRICS against its membership of the Quad, groups such as the I2U2 and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
- Vostok exercise: India joining the Russian-led ‘Vostok’ Army Exercises along with China
- SCO-RATS: Plans to host SCO-RATS (or the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) counterterror exercises
- Pitch Black: The Indian Air Force took part in the Australian ‘Pitch Black’ exercises
- Yudh Abhyas: The Indian Army is planning exercises with the U.S. (Yudh Abhyas) next month close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
- Values over interests: The western brand of a “coalition of democracies”, against a more Eurasian brand of a “coalition of common goals.
India’s stand on Russia:
- Abstaining from voting against Russia: India has refused to heed pleas from the U.S. and Europe to endorse resolutions critical of Russia at the United Nations, and has most often abstained on voting.
- Russian oil purchase: The Government has not only rejected calls to cut its Russian oil imports but it has also done the reverse.
- Putin-led Eastern Economic Forum: India wants to further strengthen energy ties, building on the $16 billion investment Indian public sector units already have in Russian oil and gas fields.
Key Meetings:
- Engagement with Chinese President: Latest round of disengagement at the LAC’s Patrolling Point (PP)-15 can pave the way for summit-level discussions at this point in the relationship.
- Proposed summit with Iranian President: India is expected to pitch the Chabahar port terminal India is developing (Shahid Beheshti).
- Iran will focus, in meetings with India, on restoring Indian imports of Iranian crude at the earliest.
Way Forward
- Multi-alignment or “all-alignment: India’s participation in the SCO summit, and the Quad summit affirms Mr. Jaisankar’s prognosis: that “hedging” is the name of the game today, as India fights for its unique brand of multi-alignment or “all-alignment” with partners worldwide, without having to choose between them.
- Important group for India: India considers the SCO as an important regional group to promote cooperation in various fields based on universally recognised international norms, good governance, rule of law, openness, transparency and equality.
- More measures against terrorism: Despite the establishment of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), the SCO has not taken visible counterterrorism measures against the main threat facing its members.
- There is a need for the Summit to play a central and coordinating role to enforce the Council’s sanctions against concerned entities.
- Agreements on connectivity and high-efficiency transport corridors: Samarkand summit is expected to have agreements on connectivity and high-efficiency transport corridors and a roadmap for local currency settlement among member states.
- SCO’s rising international influence: The significant round of expansion by inclusion of Iran and Belarus shows SCO’s rising international influence and that the principles of the SCO charter are widely accepted.
QUESTION FOR PRACTICE
- Critically examine the aims and objectives of SCO. What importance does it hold for India?(UPSC 2021)
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
- India’s participation in the SCO summit is a clear signal of pursuing multi-alignment with its partners worldwide. Critically analyze
(200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)
