Prime Minister Modi to Visit Central Asia for SCO Summit and Bilateral Talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1, 2026. The visit includes a state visit to Uzbekistan at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and attendance at the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the summit, which marks the 25th anniversary of the organization, Modi is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 31. This will be the 21st in person meeting between the two leaders since 2014. The Russian presidency indicated that Putin will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping before meeting with Modi. The two leaders are also expected to continue their discussions during the upcoming BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13.

In a departure statement, Prime Minister Modi stated that he aims to advance India's vision for the SCO, which is anchored in security, connectivity, and opportunity. He emphasized the goal of working toward a region free from terrorism, separatism, and extremism. In Uzbekistan, Modi plans to visit the Shastri Memorial and the Mahatma Gandhi Centre at the Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies to highlight cultural ties. In Bishkek, he will meet with President Sadyr Japarov and other SCO leaders, and attend the opening ceremony of the 6th World Nomad Games.

The summit brings together leaders from Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran, and four Central Asian countries, as well as Belarus. While the SCO's founding declaration states it is not an alliance directed against other states, some observers note that Russia and China have used the platform to promote a multipolar world and present a united front against the West. The gathering occurs amid significant geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in Ukraine and tensions between Washington and Tehran.