The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It aims to promote political, economic, and security cooperation among its member states. The SCO is notable for being the largest regional organization in terms of geographic coverage and population, encompassing around 80% of the Eurasian landmass and roughly 40% of the global population.
Current Members of the SCO
As of 2024, the SCO consists of nine member states:
- China
- Russia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- India (joined in 2017)
- Pakistan (joined in 2017)
- Iran (joined in 2023)
- Belarus (joined in July 2024)
The organization also has three observer states:
- Mongolia
- Belarus
- Afghanistan (currently inactive)
In addition, there are 14 dialogue partners which include:
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Cambodia
- Egypt
- Kuwait
- Maldives
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
Objectives and Activities
The SCO focuses on a variety of objectives including promoting regional stability, countering terrorism and extremism, and fostering economic cooperation among its members. The organization has established various initiatives aimed at enhancing security collaboration, economic development, and cultural exchanges.
The SCO is structured with a Council of Heads of State as its supreme decision-making body and also includes a Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which coordinates security measures among member states.
The SCO plays a significant role in creating a counterbalance to Western-dominated international forums, aligning more closely with China's and Russia's vision for a multipolar world
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