Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)

Definition

A Eurasian political, economic, and security organisation founded in 2001, focused on regional stability, counter-terrorism, and cooperation among its member states.

Key points

• Founded in 2001 in Shanghai; it grew out of the earlier "Shanghai Five" grouping. China and Russia are the leading members.
• India and Pakistan became full members in 2017; Iran joined later as a full member (verify the latest membership).
• Headquarters of the Secretariat is in Beijing; its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is based in Tashkent.
• Core focus is security and counter-terrorism, alongside economic and connectivity cooperation across Eurasia.
• For India, the SCO is a platform to engage Central Asia and to coordinate on terrorism, while balancing the dominance of China and Russia.

Why it matters for CAPF

The SCO, its founding year, its members, and its counter-terrorism arm (RATS) are recurring international-organisation facts, with a clear security and Central Asia angle relevant to CAPF.

Common confusion

The SCO is a Eurasian security grouping led by China and Russia; do not confuse it with the Quad (Indo-Pacific) or BRICS (emerging economies), though India is in all three.

Related concepts

concept brics, concept quad, concept united nations system

Parent note

international organisations and india