Avoiding China and Pakistan, India’s decision regarding the upcoming SCO summit gave an important message
during the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Goa, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, at the end of his speech, raised hopes of individual participation of the leaders in New Delhi by saying that ‘together we can make the SCO summit in New Delhi a huge success’
India’s announcement regarding the proposed summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization ie SCO on July 4 surprised everyone that it will now be organized in virtual form. Those who were busy speculating whether Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the summit are now busy speculating as to why India took such a decision.
On June 2, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in response to these questions that ‘we have not taken this decision for any particular reason, but keeping in mind various aspects of the current situation, that the upcoming summit will be held in virtual form. It will be more useful to do. However, prior to this announcement, there were reports that efforts were on to get the International Convention Hall under construction at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi ready in time for the summit. As an alternative, the possibility of organizing it in the cultural center of Rashtrapati Bhavan was also discussed.
Earlier on May 5, during the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Conference in Goa, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, at the end of his speech, raised hopes of individual participation of the leaders in New Delhi by saying that ‘together we can make the SCO summit in New Delhi a huge success’.
It is clear that even though the possibilities of participation of heads of government have increased in this conference, there is no possibility left for mutual talks between the leaders. To say that this will reduce the importance of the summit a bit, but given the strained relations between China and Pakistan with host India, it would be appropriate to call it an avoidable situation.
By deciding to hold the SCO summit virtually, India has also sent a message to Pakistan along with China that relations with them cannot be normal in the current situation. Despite the personal presence of Xi Jinping and Shehbaz Sharif, the host Indian Prime Minister Modi not to have a separate meeting with them or to perform the ceremony by having a meaningless meeting just for show would not have been appropriate for mutual relations. Perhaps this is the reason when Bagchi added in his statement that ‘the virtual summit also means that there will be no possibility of bilateral talks during the summit’. If we understand the meaning of his statement, then a possibility of bitterness arising in this conference being chaired by India has been averted.
It is noteworthy that SCO was formed in September 2003 on the initiative of China. From the very beginning it was a Chinese dominated organization. India and Pakistan joined it voluntarily and under their respective strategies in June 2017. In view of its interests, China included Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. India’s entry into the SCO was a major diplomatic event despite not only boycotting but openly opposing President Xi’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. By joining this, India got such an opportunity to come closer to these countries and to safeguard its interests in the context of China and Pakistan in Central Asia, which should be considered as a bonus in the language of diplomacy. It is also significant that this will be the 22nd summit of SCO after its formation and this is the first time that India has got the opportunity to chair and host it.
