Leaders of Russia, China, and Iran are heading to Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, marking the bloc’s 25th anniversary. The high-stakes gathering brings together roughly a dozen heads of state to project a united, multipolar front against Western influence amid ongoing global conflicts and trade tensions.
When roughly a dozen heads of state land in the Kyrgyz capital this week, they are not merely celebrating a silver jubilee.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has evolved from a regional security and economic forum into a powerful vehicle for nations locked in geopolitical friction with Washington and Brussels. Here is why that matters: this summit arrives four and a half years into Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and just six months after the outbreak of war between Washington and Tehran.
Bishkek Summit Gathers Sanctioned Powers and Regional Rivals
Hosting the summit is Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov, who will chair a plenary session featuring heavyweights like Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Russia and Iran remain among the most heavily sanctioned states in the global economy, having dramatically accelerated their military and economic cooperation since the escalation in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Putin will hold separate bilateral discussions with Pezeshkian and Xi on the sidelines of the summit.
Yet, the bloc is far from a monolithic alliance. Internal friction persists beneath the diplomatic handshakes. Russia and China continuously vie for strategic and economic dominance in Central Asia, a resource-rich corridor essential for overland trade routes between Europe and Asia. Meanwhile, Beijing has weathered periods of strained diplomatic relations with New Delhi.
Economic Pressures and the Sanctions Evasion Puzzle
The backdrop to the Bishkek meetings is defined by escalating economic warfare. Earlier this month, Washington introduced aggressive secondary sanctions targeting Iran’s trading partners across the gold, technology, digital assets, aviation, and maritime transport sectors. U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Moscow and Beijing against arming Iran.
China, which serves as a primary importer of Iranian crude oil, responded to the latest U.S. measures by vowing to firmly defend its national interests. But despite defiant rhetoric from Tehran, domestic realities are stark. Iranian President Pezeshkian has publicly acknowledged the severe economic difficulties gripping his country under decades of cumulative sanctions.
Joining the bloc in 2023 was viewed by Tehran as a strategic mechanism to alleviate its isolation. Mohammad Hassan Najmi, an international relations expert, noted in an interview with Agence France-Presse that Tehran believes active participation in such alliances can help circumvent U.S. and European restrictions. However, Najmi cautioned that concrete economic benefits remain elusive, pointing out that in times of acute crisis, these multilateral groups have rarely provided effective relief for Iran’s structural difficulties.
Institutional Growth Versus Practical Influence
Originally established to resolve border security and foster low-level economic cooperation, the SCO has expanded dramatically under the joint stewardship of Moscow and Beijing. Beyond its 10 core members—which include Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian republics, and Moscow-allied Belarus—the organization now encompasses 15 dialogue partners, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, alongside observer states Afghanistan and Mongolia.
| Metric / Category | SCO Profile |
|---|---|
| Anniversary | 25 Years (Founded 2001) |
| Core Members | 10 Countries (Including Russia, China, Iran, India) |
| Dialogue Partners & Observers | 17 Entities (Including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) |
| Global Economic Footprint | 25 per cent of global GDP |
| Demographic Reach | 40 per cent of the world’s population |
Despite representing part of the global population and global GDP, the organization’s founding declaration explicitly states that it is not an alliance directed against other states. But that legalistic framing has rarely stopped leaders from using the podium to air direct grievances against the West. During previous summits, Putin blamed Western powers for provoking the conflict in Ukraine, while Xi strongly denounced acts of intimidation amid ongoing U.S.-China trade friction.
The Diplomatic Chessboard Ahead
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