Anti-Western vector in the SCO

The SCO summit in Samarkand was held on September 15-16 in an anti-Western vector, which China, Russia and Iran tried to impose on the agenda. The latter will become a full member at the next summit in 2023, but has already introduced elements of hatred towards the U.S. and the Zionist regime into the “Shanghai Spirit.” The Islamic Republic of Iran will never back down in the face of U.S. bullying, stated by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Shanghai Spirit" is Xi's phrase, which he applies to the charter of the 20-year-old organization. According to Xi Jinping, it is based on 5 pillars:

- Maintain political mutual trust.

- Adhere to win-win cooperation.

- Maintain equal treatment.

- Be open and inclusive.

- Maintain honesty and fairness.

Xi recalled the fundamental foundations of the "Shanghai Spirit" in his speech at the 22nd meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, while Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues, Beijing refuses to dialogue with Taiwan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are waging a border war during the summit, Iran, an accomplice of terrorism, is developing a nuclear program contrary to the calls of the IAEA, a partner-Azerbaijan is at war with a partner-Armenia.

In the context of deepening global information openness, the Chinese leader, like other leaders of authoritarian countries, is concerned about the growth of free-thinking and protest mood, especially among young people, which resulted in his call for Xi to jointly prevent attempts at “color revolutions”. "It is important to prevent attempts by external forces to provoke a 'color revolution', to jointly oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries under any pretext, to keep the fate of the country in their hands," he told Samarkand.

For the majority of international observers, it was important to identify the disposition of the leading SCO states - China, India and Russia in relation to Ukraine, the topic of which, however paradoxical and abnormal it may be, was not touched upon at the meeting of the heads of state, and in the final declaration. Since this topic was the subject of bilateral consultations, the following can be emphasized. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a conversation with Putin, called for an end to the war: "I know that today's era is not an era of wars, and I spoke to you on the phone that democracy, diplomacy and dialogue have an impact in today's world."

Putin, accepting the concerns of an important economic partner, replied that he took into account Modi's remark: "I know your position on the conflict in Ukraine, your concerns that you constantly express. We will do everything to ensure that this all stops as quickly as possible."

Xi, before the SCO summit, during his working visit to Kazakhstan on September 14, literally stated that "no matter how the international situation changes", Beijing will "continue" strongly to support Kazakhstan "in protecting independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", categorically oppose interference of any forces in the internal affairs of Kazakhstan. This was a message to Moscow in connection with the threats that sounded from one of the Kremlin towers against Tokayev because of his principled support for Ukraine, and was also a preventive expression of Beijing's irritation with Russia's actions in Ukraine. It is not known what was the exchange of views on Ukraine between the closed meeting of Xi and Putin. However, from the statement of the Russian leaders, it followed that there were claims from the Celestial Empire that worried the Kremlin. "We understand your questions and concerns about this. During today's meeting, we will, of course, explain our position," Putin told Xi just before the start of negotiations.

In any case, this meager information speaks of the growing dissatisfaction of super-regional players with the protracted crisis in Ukraine and disagreements in the SCO, which the final declaration cannot even hide, replete with calls and tasks of a declarative nature, somewhat divorced from real problems not only of a global scale, but also in the SCO space.

In two months, on November 11, a number of participants in the SCO summit - Aliyev, Japarov, Mirziyoyev, Tokayev, Erdogan - will gather here in Samarkand as part of the first summit of the Organization of Turkic States. The simultaneously forming Turkic axis can demonstrate a much more principled position on regional issues than the SCO. Although it is probably not worth expecting surprises due to the special bilateral relations of the Turkic states with Russia and China, and also because of the formation of a promising alliance, but you never know.