{"id":6808,"date":"2022-07-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/16-07-2022\/expansion-of-sco\/"},"modified":"2022-07-16T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-16T00:00:00","slug":"expansion-of-sco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/16-07-2022\/expansion-of-sco","title":{"rendered":"Expansion of SCO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Iran and Belarus<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> are likely to be the two newest additions to the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>And, Varanasi <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">will be declared the \u201cCultural and Tourism Capital\u201d of SCO.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>More about the news<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Iran and Belarus:<\/strong><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>2021 SCO summit in Dushanbe<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> agreed for Iran to join.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Belarus <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">has also begun the membership process for SCO.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The legal process regarding Belarus&#8217; application for SCO membership will soon start, and the accession of Belarus will require the consensus of all member states.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The upcoming SCO Summit will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan where the issues with the expansion of the group will be discussed among other issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India will host the SCO summit in 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Varanasi &#8211; Cultural and Tourism Capital of SCO:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The holy city of Varanasi, showcasing India\u2019s culture and traditions over the ages, will be declared the<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> first \u201cCultural and Tourism Capital\u201d<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> for 2022-23<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The new initiative will come into force after the Samarkand summit.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is a new initiative by the eight-member organisation to promote <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>people-to-people contacts and tourism <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">among the member states.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The<\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong> title of \u2018Cultural and Tourism Capital\u2019<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"> will be <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>rotated <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">among the member states.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; width:667px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top; width:667px\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO):<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">About:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation of Eurasian Nations with a secretariat in Beijing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Aim:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is a political, economic and military organisation that aims at maintaining peace, security and stability in the region.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Origin: Journey from Shanghai Five to SCO<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Shanghai Five emerged in 1996 from a series of border demarcation and demilitarization talks between 4 former USSR republics and China.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">With the accession of Uzbekistan to the group in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The SCO Charter was signed in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Inclusion of India &#038; Pakistan:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">India and Pakistan both were initially observer states.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Both were given full membership in 2017.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Members:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Language:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The SCO&#8217;s official languages are Russian and Chinese.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Heads of State Council:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is the supreme SCO body that decides its internal functioning and its interaction with other States &#038; international organisations.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It also considers contemporary international issues.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Heads of Government Council:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It approves the budget, considers and decides upon issues related to economic spheres of interaction within SCO.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It considers issues related to day-to-day activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS):<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It was established to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">SCO Secretariat:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It is based in Beijing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:square\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It provides informational, analytical &#038; organisational support.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Significance of new membership in SCO:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Rising influence of SCO &#038; countering west:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The significance of this round of expansion is that it shows the SCO\u2019s rising international influence and that the principles of the SCO charter are being widely accepted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">China and Russia are looking to frame the grouping as a counter to the West \u2014 particularly after Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">SCO&#8217;s expansion compared to NATO&#8217;s:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">As stated by SCO, Neither the SCO or the BRICS is an alliance by definition, as they do not have legally binding military treaties between and among member countries, and no specific third party enemies are targeted by the groups, which otherwise would be essential elements for making a alliance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Iran\u2019s membership:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">As a country that has been long sanctioned and isolated by the US-led West, Iran, by joining the SCO that accounts for 40 percent of the world&#8217;s population and 28 percent of global GDP, could expect a breakthrough in its geopolitical and economic status quo.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Iran\u2019s proposal of single currency:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Iran has also approached the SCO with a proposal to create a new single currency for carrying out trade among SCO members, in a push to counter the increasing weaponization of the US dollar-dominated global financial system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Significance of SCO for India:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Regional Integration:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">SCO can help in achieving regional integration and promote connectivity and stability across borders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Further, it also helps India to have a multilateral talk with friends like Russia and adversaries like China and Pakistan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Regional Connectivity:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Although India opposes the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>Border and Road Initiative due to CPEC<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">, it understands the importance of connectivity with Central Asian Nations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">With Afghanistan and Pakistan are adverse as of now, SCO can help in connectivity with Central Asia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Security:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>RATS <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">can help India to improve its counterterrorism abilities by working toward intelligence sharing, law enforcement and developing best practices and technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Through the SCO, India can also work on anti-drug trafficking and small arms proliferation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Challenges of terrorism and radicalisation:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">The whole of Central Asia is aware of the Taliban and ISKP in Afghanistan which mandates regional cooperation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Geopolitical Advantage:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">Central Asia is a part of India&#8217;s Extended Neighbourhood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">And SCO provides India with an opportunity to pursue the <\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><strong>\u201cConnect Central Asian Policy\u201d<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\">It will also help India to check on the ever-growing influence of China in Eurasia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:\"Book Antiqua\",serif\"><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In News Iran and Belarus are likely to be the two newest additions to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping. And, Varanasi will be declared the \u201cCultural and Tourism Capital\u201d of SCO. More about the news Iran and Belarus: 2021 SCO summit in Dushanbe agreed for Iran to join.\u00a0 Belarus has also begun the membership [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[30,34],"class_list":["post-6808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs","tag-gs-2","tag-india-foreign-relations"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/07\/1264638Screenshot_20220716-221345_One UI Home.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}