SCO 2026: Important Decisions

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's chairmanship has moved to Kyrgyzstan, with the 26th Council of Heads of State summit expected in Bishkek later in 2026, following the record-sized 2025 Tianjin summit hosted by China (the largest SCO gathering in the bloc's history, where Belarus formally became the organisation's 10th member).

Notable threads for 2026:

  • Preparatory groundwork: The SCO Council of National Coordinators held its first 2026 meeting in Beijing in late January, chaired by Kyrgyzstan, to prepare for the Bishkek summit and carry forward the "SCO Development Strategy for the Next Ten Years" adopted at Tianjin.
  • Pakistan's turn next: Pakistan has already been confirmed to host the SCO summit in 2027 (in Islamabad), and has begun preparations well in advance, viewing it as a major diplomatic showcase.
  • India's counter-terrorism push: At Tianjin, SCO members backed India's position that "double standards" in fighting terrorism are unacceptable — a reference to the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack — even as India continues to navigate friction with China and Pakistan within the same grouping.
  • Expanding footprint: The SCO now comprises 10 full members, multiple observers, and roughly 17 dialogue/partner countries spanning Asia, Europe and Africa, reinforcing its role as a counterweight-style Eurasian security and economic platform.