Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin To Attend PM Modi’s Virtual SCO Summit

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will meet online on Tuesday, hosted by India, to increase the Eurasian group’s power by incorporating Iran and opening the door to membership for Belarus.

Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia will take part in the virtual summit, which will be Putin’s first international appearance since crushing a mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group in late June.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), founded in 2001 by China and Russia, with former Soviet Central Asian states as members, and later joined by India and Pakistan, is a political and security organization that strives to oppose Western dominance in Eurasia.

While Iran is anticipated to be admitted, Belarus will sign a memorandum of understanding that will lead to its membership later. When these nations, which have observer status and close relations to Moscow, are admitted as members of the SCO, the grouping’s western flank in both Europe and Asia will be expanded.

The summit comes just two weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hosted by US President Joe Biden for a state visit, and the two countries described themselves as among the world’s closest partners.

India has walked a diplomatic tightrope this year as relations between Western nations and a Russia-China partnership have been strained as a result of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine last year and Beijing’s growing assertive presence in the global geopolitical theatre.

Both Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are slated to visit New Delhi in September when India will host the G20 summit, which will be attended by Biden and other G20 leaders.

Also read: US Warns Citizens Against Visiting China Due To Possibility Of Wrongful Detention