The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, hosted virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4th July, 2023,[i] marked a significant event for India’s strategic autonomy amidst global geopolitical shifts. India’s hosting of the SCO summit is seen as a testament to its strategic autonomy, which it guards zealously. The timing of the summit, shortly after Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the US, signifies India’s diplomatic positioning amid the Ukraine conflict and the US-China polarization. While challenges exist in India’s relationships with China and Pakistan, the summit provided an opportunity to strengthen ties with other SCO member countries.
SCO: A Brief Background
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was founded in 2001 by the Presidents of Russia, China, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan.[ii] The objective was to promote collaboration & cooperation and handle common challenges among the member nations. The recent SCO summit recognized Iran as its ninth member, and the process to admit Belarus is in progress.
The slogan “Towards a SECURE SCO,” which Prime Minister Modi coined during the 2018 SCO summit, served as the theme of the virtual summit. The acronym SECURE represents Security, Economy and Trade, Connectivity, Unity, Respect for Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity, and Environment.[iii]
Iran’s entry into SCO
Iran’s entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is significant for several reasons. Iran has been actively participating in diplomacy with an array of countries in order to minimize its isolation, develop its economy, and project strength. “This membership is beneficial both for Iran and for the organization,” said Nasser Kanani, the country’s foreign ministry spokesman, emphasizing the positive impacts of SCO membership on economic development among member nations.[iv]
Tajikistan has been blocking Iran’s membership for years because of it supported an Islamist party in Dushanbe. Iran’s entry to the SCO, on the other hand, gives an opportunity to dispel the perception of regional isolation.[v] Furthermore, India’s development of the first phase of the Chabahar Port, which will serve as a gateway to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Europe via the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), adds strategic significance to Iran’s membership in the SCO.[vi]
India on China
While the joint statement released following the summit mentioned a “multi-polar” and “democratic order,” India once again refused to accept the part of the joint statement mentioning China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).[vii] Now India has become the only country in SCO that has refused to endorse the project. This decision emphasizes India’s objection to the BRI due to concerns over projects in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and its commitment to maintaining sovereignty. But this is not the first time India has refrained to Support China for the Belt and Road Initiative. In earlier SCO Meets, India refused to support Xi’s flagship programme for trade and connectivity.
Xi, on the other hand, said that China will host a third Belt and Road Forum in honour of the initiative’s tenth anniversary. he said, “We welcome all parties to participate in the forum and jointly broaden the Belt and Road as a “path of happiness” benefiting the whole world.[viii]
New Delhi Declaration
The Indian government proposed the “New Delhi declaration” to combat terrorism at the SCO summit. It also proposed four additional joint statements on de-radicalization, sustainable lifestyle to combat climate change, millet production, and digital transformation.[ix]
On terrorism, Prime Minister Modi expressed his concerns about cross-border terrorism and the use of terrorist organizations as state policy instruments. He emphasized the SCO’s role in condemning such practices, emphasizing that “no place for double standards on such serious matters” can exist. India has consistently expressed concern over Pakistan’s support for terrorist organizations, as well as Beijing’s opposition to establishing Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN Security Council.[x] Prime Minister Modi also emphasized the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of SCO member nations when carrying out connectivity projects, making a veiled dig at the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The agreements signed at the New Delhi Declaration highlight areas of cooperation among SCO nations; a joint statement on combatting radicalization; and one on digital transformation, in which India expressed an interest to share expertise on digital payment interfaces such as UPI. Regarding US and European sanctions targeting Russia and Iran, SCO members jointly criticized non-UN sanctions as “incompatible with the principles of international law” that have a “negative impact” on other countries. SCO members also agreed to look into the use of “national currencies” for payments within the SCO member nations, which would spare them from international dollar-based payments.[xi]
Conclusion
As India assumes the presidency of the SCO and the G20, it finds itself delicately navigating the diplomatic landscape amidst shifting global dynamics. The SCO Summit 2023 provided an opportunity for India to assert its strategic autonomy and engage with key regional players. India’s hosting of the summit underscores its commitment to a multipolar world order and its pursuit of closer ties with SCO countries beyond China and Pakistan.
Endnotes
[i] Suhasini Haidar, “PM to host Xi, Putin, Sharif virtually as India chairs SCO summit for the first time,” The Hindu, 03 July, 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pm-modi-to-host-virtual-summit-of-sco-on-july-4-putin-xi-shehbaz-sharif-to-attend/article67037422.ece. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[ii] Outlook Web Desk, “SCO Summit 2023: India To Host Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Shehbaz Sharif In Virtual Meeting Today; Details Inside,” Outlook, 04 July, 2023, https://www.outlookindia.com/national/sco-summit-2023-india-to-host-xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-shehbaz-sharif-in-virtual-meeting-today-news-300139. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[iii] The Times of India, “PM Modi to host virtual summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,” The Times of India, 04 July, 2023, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-modi-to-host-virtual-summit-of-shanghai-cooperation-organisation/articleshow/101473681.cms?from=mdr. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[iv] Ibid
[v] The Tribune, “Takeaways from SCO meet,” The Tribune, 08 May, 2023, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/editorials/takeaways-from-sco-meet-505736. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[vi] Tridivesh Singh Maini, “SCO Summit 2023: Significant takeaways for India,” DNA, 08 July, 2023, https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/report-sco-summit-2023-significant-takeaways-for-india-china-us-russia-iran-pm-modi-3050799. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[vii] Ibid
[viii] Embassy of The People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Singapore, “Xi Jinping Attends the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Delivers Important Statement,” Embassy of The People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Singapore, 04 July, 2023, http://sg.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zgyw/202307/t20230706_11109257.htm (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[ix] Raju Kumar, “SCO Summit 2023: What is ‘New Delhi Declaration’ adopted by member nations?,” INDIA TV, 04 July, 2023, https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/sco-summit-2023-what-is-new-delhi-declaration-adopted-by-member-nations-terrorism-2023-07-04-879302. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[x] Shubhajit Roy, “India and the SCO: Takeaways from the recent summit,” The Indian express, 07 July, 2023, https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/india-and-the-sco-takeaways-from-the-recent-summit-modi-xi-jinping-vladimir-putin-shehbaz-sharif-meet-8800270/. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
[xi] Suhasini Haidar, “SCO calls for multipolar world order as Iran joins grouping,” The Hindu, 04 July, 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-supports-proposal-for-reform-modernisation-of-sco-pm-modi/article67040453.ece. (Accessed on 13 July, 2023)
Author: Ananya Tomar,
Research Intern,
CS3, USI.