SCO + 1 (+ 3) : Welcome Iran, and Hi Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia [updated]
Welcome Iran, and Hi Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia
[Image: my scribbles to update the map from Wikipedia of SCO membership: By Sejogo - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16259397]
Publication date: 2021-09-22
Updated: 2021-09-24 with two new sources from Pepe Escobar and Dr. Ejaz Akram. The Personal Reflection sub-section was removed as it added nothing to the article.
Introduction
A meeting was held recently by the leaders of the movers and shakers of Asia which consolidated and expanded both the membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) at its policy platforms. Due to a dearth of reportage in the general media, this report is offered.
Report
The introductory paragraphs of the Kremlin's report describing President Putin's (video) attendance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Heads of State meeting begins:
The meeting held in Dushanbe under the chairmanship of President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Apart from the SCO heads of state, the organisers have invited to the meeting President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Iran Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh in their capacity as heads of SCO observer states, as well as President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as a guest of the current SCO Chair.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a video message to the summit.
So, you have attendance by Heads of State of (in the order listed): Russia (implicit), Tajikistan, India, Kazakstan, China, Kyrgzstan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran, Mongolia and Turkmenistan, or the vast majority of the landmass and population of Asia, and a message sent by the General Secretary of the United Nations.
Is it because they discussed such unimportant topics (essentially approving prepared policies) of:
combating terrorism, separatism and extremism
[an] action programme for fulfilling the Anti-Drug Strategy of SCO member states
ensuring international information security
countering the adverse socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
signing memorandums of understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Arab League Secretariat-General, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB)
[the] accession process for the Islamic Republic of Iran to join the SCO
grant[ing] the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the SCO’s dialogue partner status
the initiative of holding a joint meeting of the SCO and CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organisation) leaders (to plan establishing stability in Afghanistan, whose every immediate neighbour is represented at the meeting)
that you've heard almost nothing about this in the western media? To get an idea of how influential the SCO is, Wikipedia has an article on it. The recent meeting means, when looking at the map, change Iran from observer to member and add Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar as Dialogue Partners. This article’s lead graphic is my pathetic attempt to update that map graphic. While we’re on maps, pat yourself on the back if you know the name of the nation, that white spot (no, its not a lake), to the east of Nepal.
President Putin's remarks seem to typify the public dialogue. All of the above bullet points and quotes come from the Kremlin transcript of his statement. Following his "policy" based statements, he turns to his interlocutors beginning with "Friends, ..." and wishes India's Prime Minister Modi a happy birthday. He does, of course, have a shot at the USA's departure from Afghanistan, which the SCO is now considering how best to stabilize, with:
after the hasty pull-out, if not to say flight, of the US forces and their NATO allies
Putin continues with a very warm welcome of Iran, stating that it is all to the good and that Russia has "always advocated Iran’s full participation", going on to welcome the dialogue partner status of Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia (note the alphabetic order). He continues with:
There is also a robust portfolio of applications from other countries seeking to cooperate with our Organisation in one way or another, and it definitely deserves our close attention.
Who knows what "robust portfolio" means? Back in July, 2021, consultations between Syria and China were facilitated by China's most senior diplomat, Wang Yi, on some significant Syrian anniversary a month or so after Bashar Al Assad's re-election. Although the media's response at the time was all about the USA's Caesar Sanctions (which are killing civilians) this author suspected that far more was going on. The SCO would have been mentioned, as would the BRI, and a business opportunity for China to assist in rebuilding Syria. To quote James Bradley in an interview with Covert Action Magazine "the business of America [USA] is war and the business of China is business". (Enjoy the transcript of the interview with Mr Bradley).
I expect that this declaration of a portfolio of applications is also a broadcast to Turkey, Iraq, Bangladesh and Myanmar, amongst others, to get on the train, or upgrade to first class.
The Russian Federation's President is well aware of the types of tactics that the USA/NATO may/have use/used to try to continue to destabilize Afghanistan (i.e radical islamists, financial blockades etc..). It is very interesting to see the triumvirate of Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia being offered dialogue status. Throw into the pot the recent withdrawal of the largely useless Patriot missile defence systems from Saudi Arabia by the USA and Russia's offer to sell them something that works and we are seeing quite a change, or opportunity for change, in action. Trita Parsi recently penned an article detailing a rather sudden and rapid increase in intra-Middle East diplomatic activity. How interconnected all of these are, I know not, but anyone looking can see pieces being moved on the board.
Putin concludes with a rough roadmap (ie. that which is being done, like it or not):
There is one more thing I wanted to say. I would like to highlight the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed today between the SCO Secretariat and the Eurasian Economic Commission. It is clearly designed to further Russia’s idea of establishing a greater Eurasian partnership covering the SCO, the EAEU, ASEAN and China’s Belt and Road initiative.
And there it is! The SCO as the coordinating body to integrate Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, the Association of East Asian Nations and China's Belt and Road Initiative.
Nothing important happening here. Move along!
Other Commentary
The expected article by Pepe Escobar has been published. Of greater interest was the article which came after. This Letter to the Taliban by Dr. Ejaz Akram, Professor of Religion & World Politics at the National Defense University in Islamabad, is quite eye opening. This analysis by an Islamic scholar from Pakistan adds a perspective which is rare in English media.
Mercouris’ analysis is, as ever, interesting and is listed as a final source.
Sources
Meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council, Kremlin with (translated) quotes from President Putin, 2021-09-17
Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Wikipedia, last updated 2021-09-22 (at time of publication)
China builds ties with Syria helping Assad withstand US financial warfare, Giorgio Cafiero, Alarabya News, 2021-07-24
James Bradley, Author of Flags of Our Fathers, #1 New York Times Best-Seller, Speaks Out Against the U.S. Military Encirclement of China, Jeremy Kuzmarov (interviews James Bradley), Covert Action Magazine, 2021-04-26
US Withdrew THAAD, Patriot Batteries from Saudi Arabia Under Biden Orders, VT Editors, Veterans Today, 2021-09-18
Middle East cooperation appears to be breaking out — the untold story, Trita Parsi, Quicy Institute, 2021-09-20
Eurasia Takes Shape: How the SCO Just Flipped the World Order, Pepe Escobar, Unz Review, 2021-09-22
A Letter to the Taliban, Dr. Ejaz Akram and Pepe Escobar, Unz Review, 2021-09-22
SCO Summit: As West Quarrels over AUKUS, China Russia Strengthen, Expand Partnership, Alexander Mercouris, his youtube channel, 2021-09-20
Culture
“Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards”, Billy Bragg, the last song from the (great) 1988 Album “Workers’ Playtime”
End note: This article is dedicated to Angela “Poss” Rosier.
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