[Answered] Considering the ongoing geopolitical shifts and the rise of China, critically examine the significance of the SCO for India.
Red Book
Red Book

Introduction: Give a detailed description of SCO.

Body: Examine its significance for India

Conclusion: What is the way forward?

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization formed in June 2001. It had its origins in Shanghai Five which was established in 1996,  having China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan as members. In 2001, Uzbekistan also joined and the group was rechristened as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). The SCO has 8 members as of September 2022. These are India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017. Iran will join as a full member in 2023. Members of the SCO account for 40% of the world’s population and 30% of the Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Significance of SCO for India:

  • Terrorism: One of the vital aspects of the relationship with SCO is its policy against terrorism. India can cooperate with SCO to gain access to intelligence e and information to counter 3 evils of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.  Tashkent-based Regional Anti-Terror Structure (RATS) provides access to counter-terrorism information regarding Afghanistan which is in India’s interest.
  • Connectivity: India Connect Central Asia policy hinges on the important aspect of connectivity between the two for which India needs cooperation with SCO. India’s energy needs and national interest predominates even if it has to deal with China-backed SCO.
  • Pan-Asia leader: SCO membership bolsters India’s claim of being a pan-ASIA leader rather than the leader of only South Asia.
  • Pakistan: SCO gives space to both India and Pakistan not to bring bilateral disputes in the forum and discuss issues relating to mutual interest and importance. Signing off on joint counter-terrorism exercises will be a new form of engagement between the two militaries.
  • Culture: SCO has renewed its efforts to address issues of culture as Varanasi hosted a tourism ministers conference in 2023 signifying India’s plan to mark 2023 as the year of tourism development in SCO.
  • Tourism: India has taken the initiative to implement an Action Plan for the ‘Year of Tourism Development in the SCO Space in 2023’ to promote tourism among SCO nations, promotion of the cultural heritage of member states; sharing of information and digital technologies in tourism; and promotion of cooperation in medical and health tourism. Varanasi has been declared as the first tourism and cultural capital of SCO.
  • Strategic autonomy: India’s membership of SCO emphasizes its principle of “strategic autonomy and multi-alignment” and India’s foreign policy can’t be associated with a particular group or belief system. It is only guided by India’s national interests.

Conclusion:

SCO as an organization is of relevance to India to counter “three evils”, and build partnerships with nations to maintain peace and stability in Asia. The objectives of SCO are aligned with India’s foreign policy of multi-polar, multi-aligned global order. India through its active engagement can secure its geopolitical interests while countering the China-Pakistan nexus in the region.

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