SCO SUMMIT: SCO says not against any country as it expands reach, welcomes Iran – Analysis
SCO SUMMIT: SCO says not against any country as it expands reach, welcomes Iran – Analysis
By: GEÓ NewsTeam | Analysis By: Iain Fraser – Associate Publisher, GEÓ
6th July 2023
The 2023 SCO Summit (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) hosted virtually in 2023 by India, took place last Tuesday (4th July 2023) with a raison d’être that sought to forge closer ties and boost cooperation within the expanding Eurasian bloc; stressing that the group is not directed against any other states.
The SCO is a “Eurasian” security and political alliance formed in 2001 by Beijing and Moscow and now includes India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan with Iran who joined the group on the day of the Summit, becoming its ninth member with President Ebrahim Raisi taking part in the summit.
SCO summit: Putin says sanctions making Russia stronger
Of course the smart money was only interested in Putin’s address. This is the first to an international audience since last month’s aborted mutiny in Russia by his former ally and “henchman” Yevgeny Prigozhin
Those expecting his usual megalomaniacal rhetoric were not disappointed. He told the Summit that Russia was veritably prospering as a result of Western sanctions and went on to affirm that Russia would continue to oppose Western sanctions imposed on Russia et al after the diminutive despot Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to illegally invade sovereign neighbour Ukraine.
Putin also backed trade accords between SCO nations in local currencies seen by observers as an attempt to blunt sanctions.
But one can only imagine this continual avoidance of anything that vaguely resembles fact is to further “convince” his oppressed and supposedly beloved Russian people; as of course the rest of the World know he is spouting nonsense.
Key Takeaways:
- The SCO Chiefs vented their concern about the situation in Afghanistan, the leaders said they consider “it essential to establish an inclusive government in Afghanistan with the participation of representatives of all ethnic, religious and political groups in Afghan society”.
- With the exception of Host India all members supported China’s vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) scheme which envisions rebuilding the old Silk Road to connect China with Asia, Europe and beyond with large infrastructure investment.
The event concluded with SCO Chiefs issuing a joint declaration by the leaders at the end of an online summit hosted by India also said SCO members oppose bloc, ideological and confrontational approaches to address problems and security challenges. Learn More & Full Analysis/ …
Image Credit: M Waheed Jaddon/Flickr
SCO SUMMIT: SCO says not against any country as it expands reach, welcomes Iran – Analysis
By: GEÓ NewsTeam | Analysis By: Iain Fraser – Associate Publisher, GEÓ
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