- What is it?
- SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization.
- It’s a Eurasian political, economic and military organization aiming to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
- Formation: It was created in 2001.
- History
- Before the creation of SCO in 2001, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five.
- Following the accession of Uzbekistan to the organization in 2001, the Shanghai Five was renamed the SCO.
- India and Pakistan became members in 2017.
- Recent Development
- A recent summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2022 was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
- India assumes the SCO Presidency in 2023.
- Importance of SCO
- Counter rising challenges of terrorism, radicalism, and instability in the region which cause threat to India’s security.
- SCO allows India’s reach to Central Asia and enhance economic cooperation.
- Open a gateway for India to link with Eurasia.
- Enhance people to people engagement through education, tourism etc.