SCO Leaders Convene in Bishkek to Address Regional Security and Iran Conflict

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) met in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, for a summit involving ten member states, including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, and Iran. The group signed the Bishkek Declaration, a joint statement condemning military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. The declaration stated that these attacks violate international law and the UN Charter, while also expressing condolences for the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The SCO members further supported Iran's rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and opposed unilateral coercive measures that negatively impact the global economy.

During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need to dismantle the ecosystem of terrorism, including its financing and recruitment. He stated that countries using terrorism as an instrument of state policy must be told that it cannot be a strategic asset. Modi also advocated for resolving global conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy rather than battlefields, and outlined a vision for the SCO based on security, connectivity, and opportunity.

Reporting on the event varied by political lean. Center left coverage focused on the SCO's collective condemnation of Western military action and sanctions against Iran. In contrast, center right coverage emphasized Prime Minister Modi's warnings regarding state sponsored terrorism and his calls for concrete outcomes in regional security.