SCO Summit: Modi to meet Putin; talks with China unclear
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive at Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Thursday evening for the 22nd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, which is the first in-person summit since the pandemic. The summit will begin on Friday where India will hold bilateral talks with Russia, Uzbekistan, and the new member — Iran. However, it's unclear if talks would be held with China and Pakistan.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The SCO has been dubbed anti-West, owing to the West's bitter relations with Russia, China, and Iran. The visit is significant on India's part in view of the Russia-Ukraine crisis as the West has been unhappy over India maintaining trade relations with Russia despite sanctions. Indian officials, however, continue to maintain that the SCO is not against any bloc or country.
Twitter Post
World leaders arrive at Samarkand
Leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Iran, China Mongolia arrives in Samarkand for the SCO Samarkand Summit @WIONews pic.twitter.com/GtcA714U3a
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) September 14, 2022
China
Ladakh disengagement for SCO accord: Reports
Although structured bilateral talks with China are unlikely, it was reported that a pull-aside was possible between the world leaders. Two days ago, India and China's troops completely disengaged at the Gogra Hotsprings PP15 in eastern Ladakh. Some media reports speculated that the disengagement came after PM Modi threatened to boycott the SCO Summit, following which Xi Jinping gave in.
Connectivity
India pushing for Chabahar port to counter China's BRI
Indian envoy to Uzbekistan, Ambassador Manish Prabhat said that connectivity would be one of the key discussions at the summit as the four central Asian members of the SCO are landlocked. As India opposes China's much-touted Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), it is pushing for Chabahar port in Iran to be turned into an operational hub to connect India with central Asia.
Twitter Post
'Putin to discuss a number of issues with PM Modi'
Russian President Putin is going to participate in the forthcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit. PM Modi is also going. We've already announced that there will be a number of meetings in Samarkand, including with PM Modi: Russian Amb to India Denis Alipov to ANI pic.twitter.com/7z9dWrhYKH
— ANI (@ANI) September 15, 2022
SCO
What is the SCO?
The SCO is the world's largest regional organization encompassing 60% of the land area in Europe and Asia, 40% of the global population and 30% of the total GDP. It started off in 2001 as an agreement among China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan for greater cooperation. India and Pakistan joined in 2017 while observer country Belarus has applied for full membership.