Diminishing Returns: On India and its Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Engagement

Context: 

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

• India chaired the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit for the first time, marking a significant event.
• India became a full member of the SCO in 2017 along with Pakistan.

Benefits of SCO Membership:

• Joining the SCO was important for India as member countries contribute a significant portion to global GDP, trade, oil reserves, and natural gas reserves.
  • One third of the global GDP, 
  • One-fifth of global trade, 
  • One fifth of global oil reserves and 
  • 44% of natural gas reserves.
• The SCO focuses on regional security, connectivity, and addressing challenges such as terrorism in Pakistan and Chinese aggressions, including the Belt and Road Initiative.
• Provides India an interface with Central Asian markets and resources.
• India’s SCO membership aligns with its ambitions of “multi-alignment,” “strategic autonomy,” and becoming a “balancing power” in the world.

Challenges Faced:

• Challenges arose in hosting the SCO summit, resulting in its postponement and conversion into a virtual summit.
• Concerns about hosting leaders amid border hostilities, potential grandstanding by Pakistan, and the optics of welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin may have influenced the decision.
• Consensus could not be achieved on agreements, including formalizing English as an SCO language and endorsing an economic cooperation roadmap.

Conclusion: 

India’s membership and chairmanship in the SCO offer economic opportunities, regional security collaboration, and connectivity. However, challenges in hosting the summit and achieving consensus on key agreements may affect India’s SCO engagement and its future role in regional cooperation.