Russia, China, Iran Leaders to Attend SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are among the leaders expected to attend a two-day summit in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, starting Monday. The gathering marks the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional bloc that includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries, and Belarus. The summit will feature discussions on economic cooperation, security, and geopolitical alignment as the group seeks to position itself as an alternative to Western influence.

The SCO, founded in 2001, has expanded its membership and influence over the years, now encompassing 10 full members and 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Observers such as Afghanistan and Mongolia also participate. While the group’s official stance is that it is not an alliance against any specific nation, its leaders—particularly Putin and Xi—have frequently criticized Western policies in past summits.

This year’s summit takes place amid heightened global tensions, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. Putin is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Pezeshkian and Xi, with discussions likely to focus on economic ties, sanctions relief, and regional security. Iran, under extensive U.S. and international sanctions since its 1979 revolution, has deepened its economic and military cooperation with Russia and China in recent years.

The Kremlin has framed the SCO as a platform for promoting a multipolar world order, countering what it sees as Western dominance in global affairs. At last year’s summit, Putin accused Western countries of escalating conflicts, while Xi criticized U.S. trade policies and what he described as efforts to intimidate China. This year’s summit occurs as some SCO members face direct conflicts or economic pressures, including U.S. tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods and new sanctions targeting Iran’s trade partners.

Iranian President Pezeshkian, who took office in July, has acknowledged economic challenges facing his country but remains committed to strengthening ties with the SCO. Analysts suggest Iran views the organization as a means to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions, though concrete benefits have been limited. Experts note that while the SCO represents roughly 40 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of global GDP, internal disagreements—such as Russia and China’s competing influence in Central Asia or tensions between Beijing and New Delhi—undermine its cohesion.

The summit in Bishkek follows recent high-level engagements, including reports of a rare visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, where discussions may have included Ukraine and Iran. As the SCO continues to evolve, its ability to balance diverse member interests while challenging Western dominance remains a key focus for global observers.

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