India is all set to host the leaders of SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) on Tuesday (July 04) through an online summit, seeking to expand the influence of the Eurasian group by including Iran and opening doors for membership of Belarus.The summit comes just weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to the United States, hosted by President Joe Biden, and the two nations called themselves “among the closest partners in the world.”PM Modi to host this years SCO summit virtuallyIn the high-profile virtual meeting, Chinas President Xi Jinping and Russias Vladimir Putin will also participate in the virtual summit today. This is the first time that Putin is attending an international event since he crashed a mutiny by the mercenary group (Wagner) in late June.India to virtually host SCO summit todayRead @ANI Story| https://t.co/wbglmUlMmD#India #SCOSummit #SCO pic.twitter.com/9ElzkKF6fg— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) July 4, 2023The SCO was first formed by China and Russia, with former Soviet Central Asian states as its members. Later, Asian nations like India and Pakistan joined the organisation, making a total of eight members. The SCO is a political and security group that seeks to counter the Western influence in Eurasia.Belarus, Iran the new members of SCOThis year, Belarus is ready to sign a memorandum of obligations which will lead to its membership later, while Iran is expected to be expected as a member. It is said that when both the nations, which have observer status and close relations with Russia, are accepted as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, it will then expand the groupings western flanks in Europe and Asia.India, which holds the presidency of SCO and G20 this year, has walked a diplomatic tightrope as the bonds between Western countries and Russian-Chinese relations have been fraught amid Moscows invasion of Ukraine for 16 months, and Chinas growing assertive presence in the global geopolitical theatre.PM Modis phone call to PutinLast week, PM Modi had a phone call with the Russian President to discuss the aftermath of the quashed Wagner mutiny. During their conversation, PM Modi also suggested dialogue and diplomacy regarding the Ukraine row.On Tuesday, the SCO summit will witness PM Modi sharing the virtual stage with Chinese President, Xi Jinping for the first time since Novembers G20 summit in Indonesia.Pakistani counterpart Shebhaz Sharif also to join the meetingApart from China and Russia, the SCO will also have Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. PM Modi and his Pakistani counterpart will have a face-to-face virtual meeting after they both attended the SCO summit in Uzbekistan 10 months ago.It is expected that the summit will discuss the prevailing issues of Afghanistan, terrorism, regional security, climate change, digital inclusion, etc.
