The 19th meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent, on August 24, 2022.
According to the SCO’s official website, the meeting participants discussed issues related to international and regional security, outlined further steps to expand cooperation among the SCO member nations in the fields of defense and security and noted the high level of mutual understanding among the Organization member nations.
The meeting reportedly resulted in signing of a joint communique.
SCO defense ministers noted the inadmissibility of ensuring security at the expense of the security of other states.
It was noted that events taking place in the world indicate the irreversibility of the process of formation of a fair multipolar world order.
Noting the high level of mutual understanding among the SCO member nations, the ministers agreed to continue cooperation on strengthening security and providing stability of the SCO area of responsibility, including on overcoming the negative consequences of the COVID-19pandemic.
The ministers consider that speedy settlement of the situation in Afghanistan is one of the most important factors of maintaining and strengthening security and stability within the SCO area.
Taking into account the current socioeconomic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, the SCO defense ministers called for strengthening measures taken by the international community and the SCO member nations to overcome the socioeconomic and humanitarian crisis in that country.
The SCO is an influential economic and security bloc and has emerged as one of the largest transregional international organizations.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded at a Summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization currently has eight full members — China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, India, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Besides, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia are four observer states.
It is to be noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran came one step closer to becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on September 17 last year with the approval of its bid, 15 years after it first applied. On September 17, 2021, the SCO launched the procedures of Iran's accession to the SCO, which are expected to take "a fair amount of time".
SCO’s dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkiye. ACEAN, CIS, Turkmenistan and the United Nations are guest attendances.
Initially focused on regional security, including border conflicts, terrorism and militant Islam, its activities have expanded to cover economics and trade, transport and law enforcement. Security and economic cooperation remain priorities. China and Russia are the dominant members. Russia regards Central Asia as its sphere of influence but Chinese economic sway is growing. At an informal level, the SCO is a diplomatic platform that helps address and contain potential friction.
