Iran's SCO Membership: Highlights from India-Hosted Summit

Iran has now become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) after participating in a virtual summit hosted by India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the Iranian people on this important occasion.

During the summit, Prime Minister Modi also welcomed Belarus as a new member of the SCO, as indicated by the signing of the Memorandum of Obligations.

The SCO membership holds significant value, as it demonstrates the growing interest of other nations in joining the organization, highlighting its relevance and influence on regional and global affairs.

India, as the current chair of the SCO, hosted the summit. Prime Minister Modi led the virtual meeting, attended by leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, among others.

President Raisi expressed his vision for Iran's SCO membership, hoping that it would foster collective security, sustainable development, and unity among member countries.

The summit declaration underlined the historical significance of Iran's full membership in the SCO, emphasizing its strategic importance and contributions to the organization's objectives.

Additionally, the declaration acknowledged Belarus' progress towards becoming a full member through the signing of the Memorandum of Obligations, which further expands the SCO's influence.

Some key points about the SCO are as follows:

• The SCO was established in 2001 during a summit in Shanghai, China, by the presidents of Russia, China, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• In 2017, India and Pakistan became permanent members of the SCO, expanding its reach and influence.
• Iran's official full membership in the SCO was confirmed during the India-hosted virtual summit, highlighting its strategic importance and commitment to cooperation within the organization.
• Belarus has taken steps towards achieving full membership in the SCO, strengthening the organization's presence.
• The SCO has a specialized body called the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which facilitates intelligence sharing and counter-terrorism operations among member states.