Key outcomes of the summit

• Belarus becomes 10th Member to join SCO.
• Adopted Astana Declaration, Cooperation Program to Counter Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism for 2025-2027, Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024−2029, SCO Development Strategy until 2035.
  • Under Astana Declaration, member states underscored SCO’s role in bolstering global peace, and shaping a new democratic and economic order.
• Approved Economic Development Strategy’s Action Plan until 2030 and strategies for energy cooperation till 2030.
• SCO member states endorsed the Initiative ‘On World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony and Development’ (proposed by Kazakhstan), which aims to create multipolar world order with central coordinating role of UN.

Importance of SCO for India

• Resources: Help India in pursuing Connect Central Asia policy and access mineral resources (Uranium reserves in Kazakhstan).
• Counter-terrorism: SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) provides access to key information and intelligence on movements of terrorists and drug-trafficking.
• Energy Security: Region is home to 4% of world’s natural gas reserves and approximately 3% of oil reserves. SCO could also facilitate TAPI pipeline.

Challenges for India in SCO

• Continued perception of SCO being an anti-west forum in Western nations.
• Conflict among member nations e.g. India-Pakistan. 
• Limited engagement with observer states, dialogue partners and other regional and international organizations.