🌏 The so-called “end of history” heralded by Fukuyama never came.

The large-scale sanctions and restrictions which have been imposed against Russia affect not only the Russian economy, but that of the entire world, and threaten the existing system of world trade.

The freezing of the assets of the Central Bank of Russia, and earlier of Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan, is increasingly pointing to the unreliability of Western financial structures. At the same time, we observe not only the sanctions boomerang effect, but also, in fact, the self-destruction of globalisation.

One gets the impression that the initiators of the sanctions, by their illegal actions, are trying to split the world into two blocs, with all the ensuing consequences that are difficult to predict.

The current situation poses a number of issues, both tactical and strategic, for each country and international organisations. If the search for answers at the national level is mainly associated with the development of anti-crisis socio-economic measures, then at the regional level it is connected with the need to coordinate joint activity and develop a collective response to new challenges and threats that have arisen in connection with the Ukrainian crisis.

This approach is especially relevant for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, which brings Russia, China, India and Pakistan together with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

So, instead of the “end”, we are witnessing the beginning of a “new history”, writes Rashid Alimov, SCO Secretary-General in 2016–2018.

🔗 SCO Facing a New Challenge

#Asia_and_Eurasia #SCO

@valdai_club — The Valdai Discussion Club

🇨🇳🌏 The SCO plays an important role in China’s diplomacy.

Its membership includes three major countries: China, Russia and India, covers Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and West Asia, as well as almost all regions which share land borders with China (including Mongolia, an observer state of the SCO).

Meanwhile, the SCO is a very important mechanism for cooperation between China and Russia in its neighbouring regions, especially in Central Asia. This status and function of the SCO is unique to China and cannot be replaced by any other mechanism.

Over the years, China has launched a number of new cooperation platforms and mechanisms related to the region, the most important of which is the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed in 2013. In terms of positioning, scope and functions, the Belt and Road is very different from the SCO, and it will not replace the SCO. China is promoting economic cooperation through the Belt and Road initiative and the SCO in parallel, making them functionally complementary and mutually reinforcing. 

The SCO is the main experimental and practical area for China’s concepts of a new international order, and it is also a model for it. The main concepts proposed by China are reflected in the practice of the SCO, and in a certain sense, it can be said that it is the prototype for the new international order envisioned by China, writes Valdai Club expert Zhao Huasheng.

🔗 Modern Approaches of China to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

#Asia_and_Eurasia #SCO #China

@valdai_club — The Valdai Discussion Club

🌏 The approaching summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is attracting heightened attention this year for obvious reasons, two of which arguably matter more than the rest.

1️⃣ First, the SCO’s authority and importance in world affairs are growing so steadily that more and more states are interested in acquiring some kind of status in the SCO, with the latest round of expansion expected at the forthcoming summit.

2️⃣ Second, the global situation has substantially deteriorated this year. There have appeared completely new global challenges that cannot go unanswered by the SCO leaders.

Russia has a realistic view of the situation and understands that some Central Asian states have a cautious attitude to the special military operation in Ukraine and do not support all actions by Moscow. Under the circumstances, Russia will not speed up the SCO’s transformation into a military-political coalition, writes Alexander Vorontsov, Head of the Korea and Mongolia Department, Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.

#EconomicStatecraft #SCO

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🌏 An SCO summit will be held in Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan, on September 15-16.

The summit will take place amid three converging crises that directly affect the SCO member states andregional peace and security and that can catalyse changes in the existing world order. First comes the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan followed by the Ukraine-related crisisinvolving the "sanctions from hell" on Russia, and the crisis surrounding Chinese Taiwan that was caused by US provocations. The crisis of international relations which provides fertile soil for the crystallisation of anew multipolar world is the biggest crisis, though.

The world is witnessing a sharp aggravation in East-West relations that is being caused by the onset of a new world order. Once again, the West is “building” walls of alienation and “lowering” a second Iron Curtain in 70 years. The United States is making futile attempts to form a “broad-based” coalition against Russia and is resorting to blackmail and threats against China in an attempt to preservethe unipolar world. Global politics and economics are in the throes ofmounting turbulence and tensions. The conventional international order is becoming a thing of the past.

The forthcomming summit of the Shanghai Coopertion Organisation is critically important for global peace and international security. The first post-pandemic, comprehensive, in-person meeting of the Eurasian G8 and its partners is expected to come off as a historic event, writes Rashid Alimov, Professor, Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Doctor of Political Sciences, SCO Secretary-General (2016–2018).

#Asia_and_Eurasia #SCO #SCO2022

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🌏 The SCO is witnessing increasing interest from the developing nations.

One of the near-term issues concerns the possible expansion in the organization’s membership in the coming years as well as the possible creation of SCO development institutions.

🧩 In terms of the expansion in the ranks of SCO one of the most significant additions in the near term will be Iran that is expected to become a full-fledged member of the organization during the 2023 India’s chairmanship.

🧩 Another potential member in the process of accession is Belarus.

🧩 There may also be an elevation in the membership/partnership status of countries such as Turkey, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Nepal, Azerbaijan and Armenia (currently dialogue partners of the SCO) – some of these countries may acquire observer status in the organization.

🧩 Furthermore, the status of SCO dialogue partners may be accorded to countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt in 2022, while the launching of procedures related to granting such status to Bahrein and Maldives may also take place this year.

Valdai Club Programme Director Yaroslav Lissovolik writes on the SCO’s transition of the SCO towards a more economy-focused organization.

#Valdai_WorldEconomy #SCO

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🌏🌍 Can the non-West consolidate?

The firm internal consolidation among Western countries has become one of the distinctive features of the new geopolitical reality that has taken shape since February 24. It formed in response to the direct confrontation with Russia, and this political target, at least for the time being, prevails over the economic difficulties for these countries caused by the anti-Russia sanctions introduced by them and as well as by the potential for national discord. All these countries are acting as a united front and speaking in one voice, with few nuances.

It would be appropriate to ask in this context whether such consolidation is possible among non-Western countries? As we have already emphasised before, one of the main geopolitical results of the initial months of the Ukrainian conflict was that the overwhelming majority of non-Western countries did not directly join the West’s anti-Russia sanctions. These countries took a much more restrained and neutral position on this issue. So, Russia’s global denunciation and isolation did not happen.

Not only that, in the last few months, several countries simultaneously expressed their desire to join BRICS. Apparently, the conflict in Ukraine was a factor. This process is very revealing, considering that BRICS is a symbol of the collective non-West at the global level. Similar processes are taking place as regards the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at the regional level.

Having decided to cast a direct military-political challenge to the West, Russia must demonstrate to all its non-Western partners that it was a successful, effective choice. How they perceive us will directly depend on the success of Russia’s actions in the conflict, not on half measures or dubious deal-making, writes Valdai Club Programme Director Oleg Barabanov.

#Norms_and_Values #NonWest #WorldOrder #BRICS #SCO

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🇮🇳🌐 2023 is the year India holds the presidency of both the SCO and the G20. 

India’s relationship with the SCO can be analysed at three levels: the micro or bilateral, the macro or multilateral, and the operational or outcome-oriented:

🔸 India’s relationship with the individual components of the SCO and internal contradictions impact its relations with the SCO as a whole.

🔸 India’s relations with multilateral organisations, where India has worked with all countries including China and Pakistan on many issues, like WTO rules, climate change and damages issues and so on have been effective. 

🔸 India’s operationalization of its security, economic, cultural and other interests are set to expand its relationship beyond South Asia to the broader Asian region.

India will engage with all other partners in the SCO to ensure the growth and stability of this Forum as it assists in maintaining the stability of this region has a whole. India has a long-term stake in the SCO, writes Anuradha Chenoy, Adjunct Professor at the Jindal Global University.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/shanghai-cooperation-organisation-sco-and-india-/

#ModernDiplomacy #India #SCO #Eurasia

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🇮🇷🌏 Iran's official membership in the SCO (which will be finalised in April 2023) can strengthen the three main security goals stipulated in clause 3 of Article 1 of the organisation’s charter, namely to "jointly counteract terrorism, separatism, and extremism". 

Concerning the counteracting of terrorism, Iran has shown in recent decades that it has the ability and motivation to prevent terrorist operations and ensure security within its borders and has emerged as one of the safest countries in the region.

Since the SCO benefits from economic and cultural tools to strengthen its security goals, Iran's capacities in this area can also be helpful to the organisation.

Iran's entry as SCO's ninth official member can strengthen this organisation's security foundations and cultural connections and contribute to its economic development, writes Valdai Club expert Mandana Tishehyar.

https://valdaiclub.com/a/highlights/why-is-iran-s-membership-in-the-shanghai/

#Asia_and_Eurasia #SCO #Iran

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