An important political, economic, and security alliance that stands to benefit greatly from its ongoing growth is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Since its founding in 2001 as a regional security organization with a primary focus on Central Asia, the SCO has gradually expanded to include a wide range of member states and observer nations. A number of advantages in terms of strategy, economy, and security are showing themselves more and more as talks about expansion continue.
In advance of the forthcoming SCO Astana summit scheduled for early July of 2024, scholars and decision-makers have been arguing over the main topics to be covered during the gathering. In fact, this was one of the key questions discussed at the regular meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council in Astana on May 20-21, 2024. At which SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming stressed that “in the present conditions, the Organisation not only maintains a steady pace of its work, but also intensifies its activities in some areas due to the ongoing modernisation of the SCO.”
According to the USIP’s Senior Expert on China, Carla Freeman, one of the two main topics of the summit will be security issues and the expansion of the organization. On the latter she noted that the question of Belarus’ membership is a “done deal.”
There are drawbacks to growing the SCO notwithstanding its possible advantages. It is important to carefully analyze current political, economic, and security dynamics when integrating new members. Maintaining cohesion and effectiveness within the SCO requires making sure that new members share its goals and principles. Furthermore, strong diplomatic efforts and efficient governance mechanisms will be needed to manage the varied interests and priorities of an expanded membership.
Kazakhstan is looking forward to host the summit, “the organization’s economic potential is enormous, said President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the virtual summit on July 4, 2023,” reported Astana Times. The SCO can firmly establish itself as a major actor in regional and international affairs by expanding its influence, accelerating economic growth, fortifying security cooperation, and growing cultural ties.
