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International
India’s Role Could Determine SCO’s Future as a Multilateral Forum
✍️ India's World
🗓 29 Aug 2026, 07:49 PM
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Analysts suggest that India’s participation may test whether the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation can evolve into a broader multilateral platform.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), founded in 2001 by China, Russia and several Central Asian states, has expanded its agenda beyond security to include economic and cultural cooperation. Recent discussions among member states have raised the question of whether the SCO can serve as a new model of multilateralism that complements existing institutions such as the UN and ASEAN.
India, currently an observer in the SCO, has been deepening its engagement through high‑level visits and joint exercises. Policy circles view India’s potential elevation to full membership as a litmus test for the bloc’s ability to accommodate a larger, more diverse set of economies while maintaining consensus‑driven decision‑making.
Experts argue that India’s involvement could bring greater economic weight and strategic balance to the SCO, but it also poses challenges related to differing geopolitical priorities among members. The outcome of India’s bid will likely shape perceptions of the SCO’s relevance in a multipolar world.
If India secures full membership, the SCO may emerge as a more inclusive platform for regional dialogue, signalling a shift toward broader multilateral cooperation in Eurasia.
India, currently an observer in the SCO, has been deepening its engagement through high‑level visits and joint exercises. Policy circles view India’s potential elevation to full membership as a litmus test for the bloc’s ability to accommodate a larger, more diverse set of economies while maintaining consensus‑driven decision‑making.
Experts argue that India’s involvement could bring greater economic weight and strategic balance to the SCO, but it also poses challenges related to differing geopolitical priorities among members. The outcome of India’s bid will likely shape perceptions of the SCO’s relevance in a multipolar world.
If India secures full membership, the SCO may emerge as a more inclusive platform for regional dialogue, signalling a shift toward broader multilateral cooperation in Eurasia.