Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Bishkek Summit Offers India Lessons for Shaping BRICS Diplomacy
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization met in Bishkek to discuss cooperation and regional problems.
The group includes countries with different interests and sometimes serious disagreements.
Even so, its members have continued meeting and building shared institutions.
The declaration supported peaceful diplomacy, development, and respect for national sovereignty.
It also criticized military strikes on Iran and supported Iran’s peaceful nuclear-energy rights.
India asked the group to take a stronger stand against terrorism and avoid double standards.
India also wants better connections with Central Asia and more cooperation involving young people.
The author says India should invest more in the organization because it can support India’s wider diplomatic goals.
Lessons from the meeting may help India prepare a common statement for the next BRICS summit.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit was held in Bishkek on August 31-September 1.
The Bishkek Declaration reaffirmed the SCO’s non-military, non-interference-based approach and support for cooperation.
India secured language opposing double standards on terrorism while remaining cautious about the SCO’s effectiveness against cross-border terrorism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted stronger regional connectivity, youth engagement, and people-focused cooperation.
The summit’s positions on Iran and diplomatic conflict resolution could influence India’s preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit.
- Who
- Leaders and representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi, attended the summit.
- What
- The summit reviewed the SCO’s progress and adopted the Bishkek Declaration on security, development, diplomacy, connectivity, and cooperation.
- When
- The summit took place on August 31-September 1, with the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13.
- Where
- The SCO summit was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
- Why
- The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation within the SCO and address regional and international issues, while offering India lessons for its upcoming BRICS summit.
- Host city
- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
- Summit dates
- August 31-September 1
- SCO membership
- The organization has 10 full members, two observer states, and 15 dialogue partner states.
- Future partner status
- The SCO decided that all current observer and dialogue partner states will receive partner status.
- Development strategy
- The organization is pursuing a 10-year Development Strategy covering 2026-2035.
- India’s priorities
- India emphasized counterterrorism, regional connectivity, youth engagement, and wider public participation.
- Next SCO summit
- Pakistan is scheduled to chair the SCO and host its next summit in 2027.