SCO Summit 2026: India, Russia, China And Iran Meet In Kyrgyzstan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders are gathering in Kyrgyzstan for a two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, placing India, Russia, China and Iran on the same diplomatic platform. The summit comes as the 10-member grouping marks its 25th anniversary and seeks to strengthen its role in regional affairs amid tensions involving the West, Ukraine, Iran and global trade.

The SCO brings together Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian countries and Belarus. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to attend, although Turkey is not a formal member. The Bishkek meeting is significant because several members have competing strategic interests, including India's ties with China and Pakistan and Russia's relations with the West. Discussions are also expected to help set the tone for the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

For India, Prime Minister Modi's participation provides an opportunity to pursue its regional priorities while engaging directly with major powers. In his departure statement, Modi said India's vision for the region was centred on security, connectivity and opportunity, with a focus on countering terrorism, separatism and extremism. He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the summit.

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The summit could also have significance for India's diplomatic efforts ahead of the June 2027 election for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. India and Tajikistan are competing for the same position, and New Delhi could seek support or explore a diplomatic understanding with Dushanbe. India has previously pursued similar arrangements within the region, including persuading Kazakhstan to withdraw its candidature for the 2011-12 term before later supporting its bid for the 2017-18 term.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of multiple conflicts and economic disputes involving SCO members. Russia continues to face the consequences of the Ukraine war and Western sanctions, while Iran is dealing with heightened tensions with the United States. Russia and Iran have also significantly expanded their military and economic cooperation. Putin is expected to hold bilateral talks with Modi and Pezeshkian, while Pezeshkian is scheduled to meet several leaders, including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The SCO was founded primarily around regional security and economic cooperation but has increasingly become a platform for discussions on a changing global order. Alongside its 10 members, the organisation has 15 dialogue partners, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, while Afghanistan and Mongolia have observer status. Although the SCO's founding declaration states that it is not an alliance directed against other countries, its summits have increasingly featured calls by Russia and China for a multipolar international system, making the Bishkek gathering an important diplomatic meeting for the region.

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