Indian Prime Minister Modi travels to Tianjin, China, in preparation for a forthcoming summit
Headline: Global Leaders Gather for SCO Summit Amidst Geopolitical Tensions
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit is set to take place in Tianjin, China, on Sunday and Monday, bringing together world leaders to discuss regional and global issues. Among the attendees are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, along with representatives from several other countries.
The summit comes at a time of increased geopolitical tension, with relations between Iran and Russia growing closer following Russia's offensive against Ukraine. Iran has been a key player in the three rounds of peace talks hosted by Turkey between Russia and Ukraine this year. On Monday, Putin is due to discuss the Ukraine conflict with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Russia's foreign ministry has warned that the reimposition of sanctions against Iran, triggered by Britain, France, and Germany on Thursday, risks "irreparable consequences." Putin is also expected to meet with his Iranian counterpart Pezeshkian on Monday to discuss Tehran's nuclear programme.
India and China, intense rivals competing for influence across South Asia, have shown signs of thawing relations. Modi's visit to China on Saturday evening marks his first since 2018, following a trip to Japan where Japan pledged to invest $68 billion in India. A thaw between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping began last October at a summit in Russia.
The SCO, which also includes Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, along with several observer and dialogue partner states, aims to strengthen political, economic, and security cooperation among its members. In addition to the main meetings, multiple bilateral meetings are expected to be held on the sidelines of the SCO summit.
North Korea's Kim Jong Un is among some 26 world leaders expected to attend the SCO summit, indicating the organisation's growing importance on the global stage. As leaders gather in Tianjin, the SCO summit promises to be a significant event in shaping the future of international relations.
