The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent Eurasian political, economic, and security intergovernmental organisation. Its origins lie in the Shanghai Five group, which was formed on April 26, 1996, by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan to sign the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions. The SCO was formally established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai, when Uzbekistan joined the original five members.
The initial problem the SCO solved was ensuring security in the Central Asian region in the post-Soviet era, primarily by promoting cooperation and peace among member states. The organisation's goals, outlined in the SCO Charter which became effective on September 19, 2003, include promoting regional peace, stability, and prosperity, and coordinating efforts to combat the "three evils" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
The SCO works through several key mechanisms, with the supreme decision-making body being the Council of Heads of State (CHS), which meets annually. A crucial permanent body is the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, which facilitates cooperation against security threats. The organisation also has a permanent Secretariat in Beijing. The guiding principle of the SCO is the "Shanghai Spirit," which includes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, and respect for diverse civilizations.
The SCO connects to the concept of a multipolar world order, as China and Russia use it to strengthen their coordination and position it as an alternative to Western-dominated forums. It also promotes infrastructure projects, with some aligning with China's Belt and Road Initiative. Related institutions include the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).
The SCO has changed recently through significant expansion: India and Pakistan officially joined as full members in June 2017, Iran joined in July 2023, and Belarus joined in July 2024, bringing the total to ten member states. The core focus on security and the "Shanghai Spirit" has stayed the same, but the mandate has widened to include a greater focus on economic cooperation, such as the recent decision to establish an SCO Development Bank.