A Giant Ship of Security : the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is 24 years old

https://thecradle.co/articles/ten-defense-ministers-walk-into-a-room-in-china

Excellent piece by Pepe Escobar on the Cradle : Ten Defense Ministers walk into a room in China …

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) do what NATO cannot : defuse hostilities by providing ‘indivisible security’ to its Eurasian member states and across the multipolar World.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is NOT the Eurasian NATO (North Atlantic Terrorist Organization) simply because it is not an offensive alliance and certainly NOT a terrorist organization.

Anti-terrorist activities are part of the SCO : The RATS (The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure).

The metaphor used by the Chinese for describing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is most apt : A GIANT SHIP OF SECURITY.

■ In 1996, the Shanghai Five was created comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan.

■ THE TEN SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) FULL MEMBERS :

On June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Five nations plus Uzbekistan met in Shsnghai and declared the creation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) : China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan.

India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017.

Iran joined as full member in July 2023.

Belarus as full member in July 2024.

■ THE 2 SCO OBSERVERS :

Mongolia

Afghanistan (inactive since 2021)

■ THE 14 SCO DIALOGUE PARTNERS :

Egypt, Türkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Koweit, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Cambodia.