SCO Leaders Meet in Bishkek to Counter Western Influence

Leaders from ten member states gathered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from August 31 to September 1, 2026, for the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State. Chaired by Sadyr Japarov, the summit marked the 25th anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and focused on creating a multipolar world order as a counterweight to U.S. global influence.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping used the forum to present a united front against Western sanctions and tariffs. Putin held bilateral talks with Xi to discuss the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline and a permanent visa-free travel regime. Putin also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who stated that continuing the war with the U.S. and Israel is not in Tehran's interest, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss Black Sea security and the conflict in Ukraine.

Economic priorities included the proposed establishment of an SCO Development Bank, currency diversification for trade, and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. While China and Russia pushed for an anti-Western alignment, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated to maintain strategic autonomy, balancing SCO engagement with India's role in the Quad.

The summit concluded with the issuance of the Bishkek Declaration, which rejects unilateral sanctions. Following the event, the SCO chairmanship transferred from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan, which plans to host the 2027 summit in Islamabad.