With the title The Russian People Stand United as Never Before, President Vladimir Putin addressed an Asian security conference hosted by India on Tuesday. This rare international platform provided Putin an opportunity to project confidence following a recent armed rebellion in Russia that raised questions about the unity of Russian elites. The meeting, held via videoconference, was organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security grouping created by Russia and China to counter Western alliances. As a new member, Iran was welcomed into the organization, bringing the total number of member nations to nine.
Speaking from the Kremlin, Putin praised the SCO for its role in international affairs, contributing to peace, stability, and economic growth among member states. He expressed gratitude for the support extended by SCO nations during the short-lived armed mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Wagner, a private military contractor. Putin also criticized the West for turning Ukraine into an anti-Russia state.
During the summit, the prime ministers of India and Pakistan, Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif, respectively, addressed regional challenges. Modi highlighted the threats to food, fuel, and fertilizer supplies, without explicitly mentioning the ongoing war in Ukraine. He also indirectly criticized Pakistan, urging the SCO to confront countries that use terrorism as a tool of state policy. Sharif condemned terrorism while defending Pakistan’s role in the fight against it. He hailed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a potential game-changer for regional connectivity and stability.
The SCO includes the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, all former Soviet republics with deep Russian influence. Belarus is also set to become a member. Against the backdrop of growing global challenges and tensions, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized the importance of working together and called for a cohesive response. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged SCO members to aim for long-term peace, stability, and economic recovery while aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with other nations’ development strategies.
The SCO summit in India provided an opportunity for leaders to discuss various regional and global issues. However, the war in Ukraine was not explicitly addressed, possibly to avoid diplomatic tension among member states. The summit allowed India to showcase its growing global presence following Prime Minister Modi’s recent visit to the United States. India’s diplomatic stance regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine has been neutral, as the country has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions against Russia.
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