SCO summit: Putin to address meeting chaired by Indian PM Modi
SCO summit: Putin says sanctions making Russia stronger
(about 2 hours later)
The SCO will serve as a platform for Mr Putin to show that he is still welcomed and heard on global platforms
Russia will continue to oppose Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin has said, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to address a global summit for the first time since the Wagner mercenary group staged a mutiny in June.
His address to a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit was his first to an international meeting since last month's mutiny in Russia.
He will join leaders from China, India, Pakistan and four Central Asian countries virtually for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on Tuesday.
Mr Putin backed trade accords between SCO nations in local currencies - seen as an attempt to blunt sanctions.
India is chairing the summit this year, which is taking place just two weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hosted by US President Joe Biden for a state visit.
The 2023 SCO summit is taking place virtually under India's leadership.
Regional security, economy, food security, climate change and Afghanistan are some of the issues that are likely to be discussed in the meeting.
Mr Putin used the platform to send a message of defiance to the West, saying "Russia counters all these external sanctions, pressures and continues to develop as never before".
But most importantly the SCO will serve as a platform for Mr Putin to show that he is still welcomed and heard on global platforms despite the Ukraine war.
He has made several public appearances since the Wagner mercenary group staged a short-lived mutiny in late June, but this was the first time he'd been seen with a group of international leaders.
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He added that more than 80% of trade between Chinese and Russian people was in roubles and yuan, and urged other SCO members to follow the same process.
India PM Narendra Modi called on SCO members to boost trade, connectivity and tech co-operation, among other things.
He didn't directly refer to either the war in Ukraine or China's increasingly assertive stance in the Indo-Pacific. India - historically non-aligned - had to walk a tight diplomatic rope, due to its increasingly strong ties with the West.
The US rolled out the red carpet for Mr Modi just days before when he was received in Washington on a state visit.
India's PM urged the SCO members to co-operate on cross-border terrorism.
"Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument in their policies, (they) give shelter to terrorists... SCO should not hesitate to criticise such countries," Mr Modi said.
Such statements are always seen as directed at neighbouring Pakistan. While Mr Modi talked about regional security, he did not mention China, the other neighbour with whom India has long had hostile relations.
Indian and Chinese troops fought deadly clashes on their long disputed border in 2020. Tensions persist.
The West has increasingly sees India as a counterweight to China, although Delhi has publicly never owned the tag. And it once again refrained from doing so at the SCO.
Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned the importance of safeguarding regional peace and security. He urged SCO members to "follow the right direction and enhance their solidarity and mutual trust".
One factor that all the members seem to agree on unanimously was maintaining stability in Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover after US troops pulled out two years ago.
A joint statement due to be released later will give more clues on how SCO nations aim to work together on Afghanistan.
China, Russia and four Central Asian countries formed the SCO in 2001 as a countermeasure to limit the influence of the West in the region. India and Pakistan joined the group in 2017.
China, Russia and four Central Asian countries formed the SCO in 2001 as a countermeasure to limit the influence of the West in the region. India and Pakistan joined the group in 2017.
All SCO members states, which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, have either abstained or not voted in favour of UN sanctions against Russia. It will be interesting to see if Mr Putin uses the platform to signal the world that he is still important and very much in command.
India's stand to not criticise Russia directly in the early days of the war came under criticism from its Western partners
He might also warn the West against what he sees as their interference in Ukraine. And that may not be very palatable to Delhi.
India, which is hosting the event, would want some tangible outcomes in form of pledges on anti-terrorism measures, trade, financing to fight climate change, fight against drugs trade, food security and money laundering. The meeting is taking place virtually, so bilateral agreements are off the table.
But this is a big diplomatic year for India as it will also host a summit of G20 leaders in September. The two forums have different priorities and geopolitical alliances and that poses a big challenge for Delhi.
The SCO summit also comes just days after the US rolled out the red carpet for Mr Modi for his state visit.
He signed significant defence deals with Washington but the joint statement also made indirect references to Russia's war in Ukraine and China's growing influence in the Indo Pacific.
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Such vastly differing geopolitical priorities may look like a diplomatic nightmare to many, but Delhi insists that it shows the strength and independence of its foreign policy.
On Russia, India seems to have convinced the West that it cannot afford to upset its time-tested ties with Moscow.
India's stand to not criticise Russia directly in the early days of the war came under criticism from its Western partners. But that has changed as Washington and other allies have accepted, even though reluctantly, Delhi's position.
India still imports nearly 50% of its defence needs from Russia despite serious efforts by Mr Modi to diversify the portfolio in recent years.
Meanwhile, Mr Modi's challenge will be to manage its serious differences with neighbours China and Pakistan during the summit.
India and China relations have been tense in recent years, especially since the 2020 border clash
Pakistan and India issued sternly worded statements against each other during a SCO summit of its foreign ministers in Goa in May.
India often uses internal platforms to indirectly blame Pakistan for fuelling terrorism in the region.
Delhi may not do that under its presidency but any mention of state-sponsored terrorism may rattle Islamabad.
China's stand on what the Russian leader says will most likely be positive but it will be interesting to see if President Xi Jinping talks about the Indo-Pacific and specifically takes aims India-Washington ties.
India and China relations have been tense in recent years, especially since their troops clashed in 2020 along their contested Himalayan border.
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Reports suggested that Iran might be given full membership of the SCO this year - a first for Tehran in decades. This move will most certainly infuriate the West.
Mr Modi likes big headlines and showing results but he will have to overcome serious challenges to achieve a joint SCO statement that looks promising and aligns with Delhi's priorities on issues like food poverty, terrorism and climate change.
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