Russian President Putin travels to China for a crucial regional security meeting, happening coincidentally during a standstill in peace negotiations for Ukraine.
China Hosts Largest-Ever SCO Summit Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
The 25th annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit is underway in Tianjin, China, with a dozen leaders in attendance, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iran's President. This year's summit, described as the "largest-ever," takes place just days before a massive military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender at the end of WWII.
The summit demonstrates a strong show of unity among Global South leaders, with the SCO picking up four new members since 2017, including India and Pakistan, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in 2024. The group's full membership now includes Russia, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
One of the key topics of discussion is expected to be the alignment of positions on the Ukraine war between Putin and Chinese leaders. There is speculation about whether the summit will try to appease Putin on the issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected the possibility of China acting as a security guarantee in a future peace agreement.
Putin, who is on an unusually long visit to China, lasting four days, praised the relations between Russia and China, stating they have reached an unprecedentedly high level. China has become closer to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. This closeness is evident in Putin's expected attendance at the military parade, which will also have a rare appearance of Kim Jong-un of North Korea.
In a separate development, Xi Jinping and India's Modi had a landmark meeting ahead of the regional summit. The details of their discussions are not yet clear, but the meeting is significant given the ongoing border disputes between the two nations.
China's support for multilateralism is essential, according to UN chief Antonio Guterres at the summit. As the world grapples with multiple crises, including the war in Ukraine, the pandemic, and climate change, the SCO's two-day summit may provide insights into the group's activities and intentions. The summit comes at a critical juncture in talks over Putin's war on Ukraine, and its outcomes could have far-reaching implications for global politics.
