SHIFTING FROM THE WEST? THE MIDDLE EAST IS SCOPING OUT THE “ASIAN CLUB”
The MED This Week newsletter provides expert analysis and informed insights on the most significant developments in the MENA region, bringing together unique opinions on the topic and reliable foresight on future scenarios. Today we shed light on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which is hosting its next summit in Goa amid the growing involvement of countries from the Middle East, with potential repercussions on the international stage.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is growingly becoming a significant focal point for Middle Eastern countries. Established in 2001, the SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation led by China and Russia which also includes four Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – along with India and Pakistan. In this framework, Iran is expected to be the next full member after signing a memorandum last September. Similarly, Arab states have shown an increasing inclination toward joining the bloc: Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia were recently admitted to the Dialogue Partnership (a status Turkey has enjoyed since 2013), while Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates are vying to join. As the foreign ministers of the SCO prepare to convene for the upcoming summit in Goa on May 4 and 5, it’s likely that the issue of admitting new members will be high on the agenda. This is especially true for Tehran. The process of inclusion of countries from the Middle East underscores these countries’ growing desire to diversify their foreign relations, as well as China’s and Russia’s rising ambitions in a region traditionally considered a US zone of influence. The success of SCO further indicates the redefinition of global balances and its rising impact on the MENA region.
Experts from the ISPI network react to the implications of the growing involvement of Arab Gulf states in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
