Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Meeting – SCO Structure, Members & India Role for UPSC

Context: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

• Rajnath Singh is in Bishkek (Kyrgyz Republic) for the Defence Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• The meeting is centred on regional security, counter-terrorism, and defence cooperation, with India reiterating its zero-tolerance stance on terrorism while also holding bilateral talks to deepen strategic ties.

What is SCO?

• A Eurasian political, economic and security organisation.
• Founded: 2001, Shanghai.
• Origin: From Shanghai Five (1996) → confidence-building among China, Russia & Central Asian states.

Members & Structure

• Members (10): India, Russia, China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Belarus.
• Covers a vast region: Central Asia + major Eurasian powers.
• Key body: RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) → intelligence sharing, anti-terror coordination.

Core Objectives

• Security: Fight the “three evils” → terrorism, extremism, separatism.
• Political: Build trust and regional stability.
• Economic: Promote trade, connectivity, energy cooperation.

India and SCO

• 2005: India joined as Observer.
• 2017: Became full member (with Pakistan) → major expansion of SCO.
• 2023: India held Chairmanship and hosted the SCO Summit.

Why SCO matters for India

• Direct engagement with Central Asia (energy, connectivity).
• Platform to interact with Russia & China together.
• Push agenda on counter-terrorism (especially cross-border terror).
• Discuss Afghanistan and regional instability.