Despite US security concerns, Saudi Arabia’s cabinet agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as Riyadh builds a long-term partnership with China.
What is SCO?
- The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China established the SCO in June 2001.
- The grouping’s origins can be traced back to the post-Soviet era in 1996, when these nations, dubbed the “Shanghai Five,” came together.
- Previously, it concentrated on regional security to work on regional security, border troop reduction, and terrorism.
- Its primary emphasis has been on “conflict resolution,” which has resulted in early successes between China and Russia, as well as within the Central Asian Republics.
Its establishment
- The presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China established the SCO in June 2001.
- The grouping’s origins can be traced back to the post-Soviet era in 1996, when these nations, dubbed the “Shanghai Five,” came together.
- Previously, it concentrated on regional security to work on regional security, border troop reduction, and terrorism.
- Its primary emphasis has been on “conflict resolution,” which has resulted in early successes between China and Russia, as well as within the Central Asian Republics.
Structure of SCO
The organisation has two permanent bodies —
- The SCO Secretariat is headquartered in Beijing, and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is headquartered in Tashkent.
- The Council of Heads of State appoints the SCO Secretary-General and the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS for a three-year tenure.
- However, the SCO council sessions alternate between the eight members. (including India and Pakistan).
Members of the SCO
- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China are among the other countries named.
- Both India and Pakistan are participants of this organization, having joined in 2017.
- The SCO also has four observer countries: Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia, which may be admitted at a later point.
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are among the “Dialogue Partners.”
Primary objectives
- The SCO’s main goals, as stated in its Charter in St. Petersburg in 2002, are as follows: Strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among member states; Promoting effective cooperation in politics, trade, economy, research and technology, and culture, as well as education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; Making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security, and stability in the region; and Moving towards the est
Why did Saudi Arabia decide to join the SCO?
- Saudi Arabia could benefit from increased trade and economic cooperation with member countries, especially China and Russia.
- It may also acquire a stronger voice in regional security matters as well as access to the SCO’s anti-terrorism framework.
- Furthermore, Saudi Arabia could assist the organisation in expanding its Middle Eastern impact and increasing its strategic weight in global affairs.
- This is undoubtedly the result of straining relations with Washington.
Source: https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-agrees-to-join-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-as-a-dialogue-partner-1.94793231