The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is one of the most important foreign policy initiatives taken by Russia along with five other countries. Both Russia and China want to reduce the threat of separatism and western influence in the region. Emergence of SCO provoked new international order.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is one of the most important foreign policy initiatives taken by Russia on 15 June 2001 along with five other countries, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO is focused on fighting the trinitarian evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism on the one hand and on creating a web of regional prosperity on the other. India, Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan are observer states. India and Pakistan both has expressed their strong desire to become full members of SCO. India was invited by Russia to join SCO as full member and this proposal has been going on since 2003. India hopes that by joining SCO as a full member it can play larger, wider and active role in SCO. There is a strong belief that shortly after Russia will hold the Chair of SCO, India might get the opportunity to fulfil its ambition.
SCO has achieved many significant goals in last 12 years. The SCO’s economic agenda and cooperation between the member states has developed significantly. Russia emphasized on increasing cooperation in the security sector along with the economic cooperation between the SCO members. Hence, both Security and economic cooperation has become two major areas of focus for SCO. All SCO members and observer states have adhered to the Shanghai Spirit and signed the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. They’ve promoted the idea of lasting peace and friendship, which has been widely accepted and supported by all member/observer states.
Over the last few years Russia along with other SCO members has worked for increasing SCO’s influence. By enhancing cooperation and unity SCO members are trying to cope up effectively with the emerging challenges, safeguard regional peace and achieve common goals. Russia strongly feels that SCO has become a harmonious community, which can protect the regional security and ensure stability and can become a driving force to boost regional economic development, as well as an effective platform for increasing international exchanges and influence.
The most important institution of SCO after the secretariat is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). This started its operation in the year 2004 from a base in Tashkent. Russian Federal Security Service (RFSB) is of the opinion that RATS should also concentrate to fight against the latest threats of drug trafficking and cyber crimes along with exchange of information and co-ordination of operations related to tapping terrorist training camps and funding agencies. The RATS staffs include officials from all the SCO member states. Over the past few years, RATS has expanded its role. It is now working for the harmonisation of antiterrorist legislation in the member-states and fight against the terrorist’s activities.
Through RATS, SCO is trying to find a common position to fight against various terrorist organisations within the region. Russia has also proposed to develop an anti-terrorism centre within the SCO. Russian President is sure that SCO can achieve success by establishing such centres to fight against terrorist activities, drug-trafficking and organized crime.
Recently, Russia has proposed to establish new credit rating agency within the framework of SCO, though formation of such an agency is not an easy task but Russia feels that because of the financial crisis surrounding the SCO states, it is necessary to form such a grouping. While Russia and China both are the main pillars of SCO, Russia wants to maintain its influence in the region through SCO and China wants to expand its economic ties with the countries of the region and also expand its leverage with the Central Asian States in particular. However, both Russia and China want to reduce the threat of separatism and western influence in the region. Above all, it is evident that both Russia and China want to maintain strong hold on the energy supply routes of the region.
It is eminent that Russia will remain as one of the main driving force of SCO in the coming years. Russia wants SCO to maintain a status of a forum, which should be rated reasonably high from the political, economic and security aspects and not just as a forum for increasing bilateral/multilateral cooperation. Nonetheless, now Russia should also consider the options for expanding the SCO membership further and convince other member states about the need for such a move. Moreover, other SCO member states should also be able to increase their influence and involvement. By expanding its membership SCO can acquire a charter of wholeness. Emergence of SCO on the world political map provoked new international order and it can further increase intercommunication within the region and help avoid unipolarity in world politics.
The author is a laureate of the Valdai Club Foundation Grant Program .
