India’s Balancing Act in the SCO Summit’s Anti-West Narrative

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit has begun in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with the arrival of the heads of 15 countries. Since their most recent face-to-face meeting at the SCO summit in Bishkek in 2019, the most prominent among them have adopted a more vehement anti-Western attitude. This includes Iran, the upcoming newest member of the organization, Russia, and China. We wish to prevent any conflict, as well as any geopolitical or ideological preconceptions, Mr. Nurimbetov emphasized clearly.

Manish Prabhat, the ambassador of India to Uzbekistan, offered his opinion on this matter in response to a query from a reporter at a Tashkent press conference.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, is one of the most vociferous anti-Western or anti-American voices at the moment and is waging a literal battle. Russia has been the target of severe Western sanctions since the Ukraine invasion. The cap on Russian oil prices that the G7 nations have decided to impose by year’s end will be the most recent to affect the government. Putin has listed US efforts to broaden NATO as one of the causes of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

China and the US have been arguing over Taiwan in the meanwhile. The visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi only fueled anti-American sentiment; Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi referred to it as “manic, irresponsible, and irrational.”

Iran, which will join the SCO this year as the newest member, is likewise subject to US sanctions. Iran most recently stated that if the US wants to see the restart of the Joint Comprehensive — an accord on the Iranian nuclear program — it must cease making unfounded accusations.

US sanctions are also being applied to Belarus, an observer at the SCO who wants to join as a full member. Belarus supported Russia during the invasion of Ukraine.

The involvement of Turkey, a participant in this SCO conference and a member of NATO, is also intriguing. In two separate instances in the past, President Recep Erdogan stated a desire to join the SCO as well.