Many have not heard of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was established in 2001 and includes eight countries: China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. However, it should be of interest to Israel, not only because 40 percent of the world's population is affiliated with it, but because soon Iran will become a member, Turkish President Erdogan is eager for Turkey to become a member, and a number of Arab countries have become "dialogue partners" with the organization.
The recent meeting of the heads of the member states, and which the Presidents of Turkey and Iran attended as guests, underscored how much the international system has been upset. Moreover, although two international camps are forming – one led by China and Russia and the opposite camp led by the US, the European Union, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region – certain countries play on both sides.
The summary statement of the meeting of the heads of the member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (September 15-16, 2022) opened with a description of the deterioration in the international economic arena and the prescription for its solution – more equitable and effective cooperation for sustainable economic development. To remove any misunderstanding, it was stipulated that the members renew their commitment to a multi-polar, democratic, and just global order, based on international law, multilateralism, shared, comprehensive, and sustainable security, and cultural diversity.
The statement features language reminiscent of the announcement of the Presidents of China and Russia following their meeting on February 4, 2022 – the right of peoples to choose independently and democratically the way to their economic and political development while recognizing the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the countries, as well as non-interference in their internal affairs.
Russia may have "paid" a certain price in some of the wording, but won in this broad forum in its exit from international isolation. China is the big winner as it is the leader of the effort to undermine the "old" world order in which, in its view, the US has a preferred status. India, labeled as part of the Western bloc, is a member of the SCO as well as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which associates it with China, Russia, and South Africa. Its motive is ostensibly economic, but India's desire to balance Pakistan's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its longstanding effort to undermine at least one characteristic of the current world order – the number of permanent members of the Security Council – should be considered.
The joint communique calls on all parties to fulfill their obligations under the nuclear deal with Iran and to implement them fully and effectively. Iran signed a memorandum of commitments with the SCO; this is a step toward full membership in the organization, which it will apparently receive in 2023. At the same time, some of the organization's members will likely still hesitate to trade with Iran out of fear of the American sanctions.
Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia already have "dialogue partnership" status with the organization, and Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have begun the process of obtaining this status. Turkey has been a "dialogue partner" for almost a decade, and the question is what prevented its promotion to full membership and how will its membership in NATO affect the Russian and Chinese considerations.
In conclusion, take note: the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is expanding its borders toward areas very close to Israel.
Many have not heard of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was established in 2001 and includes eight countries: China, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Pakistan. However, it should be of interest to Israel, not only because 40 percent of the world's population is affiliated with it, but because soon Iran will become a member, Turkish President Erdogan is eager for Turkey to become a member, and a number of Arab countries have become "dialogue partners" with the organization.
The recent meeting of the heads of the member states, and which the Presidents of Turkey and Iran attended as guests, underscored how much the international system has been upset. Moreover, although two international camps are forming – one led by China and Russia and the opposite camp led by the US, the European Union, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region – certain countries play on both sides.
The summary statement of the meeting of the heads of the member states in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (September 15-16, 2022) opened with a description of the deterioration in the international economic arena and the prescription for its solution – more equitable and effective cooperation for sustainable economic development. To remove any misunderstanding, it was stipulated that the members renew their commitment to a multi-polar, democratic, and just global order, based on international law, multilateralism, shared, comprehensive, and sustainable security, and cultural diversity.
The statement features language reminiscent of the announcement of the Presidents of China and Russia following their meeting on February 4, 2022 – the right of peoples to choose independently and democratically the way to their economic and political development while recognizing the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the countries, as well as non-interference in their internal affairs.
Russia may have "paid" a certain price in some of the wording, but won in this broad forum in its exit from international isolation. China is the big winner as it is the leader of the effort to undermine the "old" world order in which, in its view, the US has a preferred status. India, labeled as part of the Western bloc, is a member of the SCO as well as BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), which associates it with China, Russia, and South Africa. Its motive is ostensibly economic, but India's desire to balance Pakistan's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its longstanding effort to undermine at least one characteristic of the current world order – the number of permanent members of the Security Council – should be considered.
The joint communique calls on all parties to fulfill their obligations under the nuclear deal with Iran and to implement them fully and effectively. Iran signed a memorandum of commitments with the SCO; this is a step toward full membership in the organization, which it will apparently receive in 2023. At the same time, some of the organization's members will likely still hesitate to trade with Iran out of fear of the American sanctions.
Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia already have "dialogue partnership" status with the organization, and Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have begun the process of obtaining this status. Turkey has been a "dialogue partner" for almost a decade, and the question is what prevented its promotion to full membership and how will its membership in NATO affect the Russian and Chinese considerations.
In conclusion, take note: the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is expanding its borders toward areas very close to Israel.