Putin, Modi and Xi Jinping unite for anti-US global influence summit

The leaders of China, Russia and India gathered with other heads of state in Kyrgyzstan on Monday for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group billed as a counterweight to US global influence.Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are attending the events in Bishkek, the capital of the Central Asian nation.Putin and Xi met in one of the many bilateral sessions on the sidelines of the summit, Russian state media reported.Putin affirmed Moscow’s readiness to make the visa-free regime with China permanent, the reports said.Talks between Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are expected Tuesday, when the official SCO sessions begin.Russia, now 4½ years into its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Iran, six months into a war with the United States and Israel, see the summit as an important platform to strengthen their relations with non-Western partners.The SCO was founded in 2001 by China, Russia and four Central Asian states as a security forum.

Over the past quarter-century, it has grown in size and influence, although its goals and programs remain vague and its brand recognition low.It now includes 10 nations: Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.Many other countries have the status of “dialogue partners.”Along with Russia, China has presented the SCO as an alternative to Western-aligned organizations like the G7, and in recent years has wanted to expand the scope and influence of the organization, pledging development and financial assistance.China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week that the organization has successfully “explored a new path for regional cooperation.” Beijing has consistently promoted the idea of an alternative world order with Russia’s support.For many SCO members, the summit will be an opportunity to show that they maintain strong ties on the global stage des...