Bishkek: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set to arrive in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for a two-day summit, where they will join leaders from Iran and India. The summit aims to project a united front against Western influence amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, and increasing tensions with the West.
According to France24.com, the leaders will gather in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This regional bloc includes Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, four Central Asian nations, and Belarus, which is allied with Moscow. The SCO has historically focused on economic issues and has grown in significance under the leadership of Moscow and Beijing.
The summit takes place as the Ukraine conflict enters its fifth year and the tension between Washington and Tehran continues. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will represent his country at the summit. Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian, along with India's Narendra Modi and Pakistan's Shehbaz Sharif, are scheduled to participate in a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov.
Kremlin spokesman Yuri Ushakov has indicated that Putin will engage in separate bilateral discussions with Iran's Pezeshkian and China's Xi, among other leaders. Russia and Iran, two of the most heavily sanctioned countries globally, have strengthened their military and economic relations during the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has cautioned Moscow and Beijing against providing arms to Iran.
The summit comes shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's rare visit to Moscow, with US media speculating about discussions on Ukraine and Iran with Russian officials. While the SCO's founding declaration states it is not an alliance against other states, Putin and Xi have used past summits to voice anti-Western sentiments. Last year, Putin accused Western countries of provoking the Ukraine war, while Xi criticized US-China tensions.
The Bishkek summit occurs against the backdrop of real wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as trade wars, with the US imposing tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods. Recently, the US imposed secondary sanctions on Iran's trade partners in several sectors, including gold, technology, and digital assets, aiming to weaken the Iranian regime. Additionally, Washington threatened Iran's allies with sanctions. In response, China, a major importer of Iranian oil, stated it would "firmly defend" its interests.
Iran has been under sanctions since the 1979 revolution, which brought Islamic authorities to power. Despite acknowledging economic difficulties, President Pezeshkian remains steadfast against economic pressure. Iran joined the SCO in 2023, hoping to bypass US and European sanctions through its membership. However, Mohammad Hassan Najmi, an international relations expert, expressed skepticism about the tangible benefits of the alliance, noting that such groups have rarely helped Iran resolve its challenges during crises.
While the SCO claims to represent 40 percent of the global population and 25 percent of global GDP, internal disagreements persist. Russia and China vie for influence in Central Asia, a region rich in resources and vital for European-Asian trade routes. Additionally, Beijing has experienced strained relations with India and Pakistan at times.