SCO Summit in Bishkek

Leaders of China, Russia, India, and other member states gathered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a group positioned as a counterweight to US influence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended, with Putin holding bilateral meetings with Xi and Modi. Putin affirmed Russia's readiness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent and noted strengthening ties with India. Modi urged an end to the war in Ukraine, stating the need to move from endless war to peace. Talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were scheduled for the official session day. The SCO, founded in 2001, now includes ten member nations and several dialogue partners. The summit highlights the bloc's role as an alternative to Western-led organizations like the G7, though analysts note internal disagreements and divergent interests among members. Security measures in Bishkek included closures of shopping malls and restrictions on flights and traffic.