The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a supranational organisation that emerged from the so-called Shanghai Five. The number of dialogue partners now includes 14 countries.

The meeting of the presidents of China and Russia, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand (15-16 September 2022) was the first meeting of the two heads of state since Russia started the war in Ukraine. Both presidents demonstrated unity and agreement in their assessment of the international political situation. China declared solidarity with Russia's geopolitical interests and did not criticise the invasion of Ukraine. Russia, conversely, supported China's claims regarding Taiwan.

Although most SCO member states are sceptical or critical of the West, the SCO should not be seen as a strictly anti-Western association. Several countries, especially in Central Asia and the Middle East, are interested in good relations with the US and Europe, at least in terms of economic policy, or want to keep various options open in their foreign relations.

The SCO is burdened with internal conflicts, rivalries and antagonisms among the member states and is thus limited in its ability to act. Nevertheless, its potential as a platform for bilateral talks and negotiations between countries from different regions with different geopolitical interests should not be underestimated.

A full membership of Turkey in the SCO would not be compatible with NATO membership and would undoubtedly lead to a significant crisis in the transatlantic alliance. However, it can be assumed that Turkey's aspirations for SCO membership will not go beyond declarations of intent for the time being.

Read the entire Monitor: „Die Shanghaier Organisation für Zusammenarbeit und ihre geopolitische Bedeutung“ here as a PDF.