Iran has become a full-fledged member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a formidable bloc of Eurasian states that’s led by Moscow and Beijing. Tehran’s accession to the SCO was formalized at a July 4 virtual summit hosted by SCO member India, which currently holds the organization’s rotating presidency. While addressing participants, Iranian President Ebrahim…

Commentary The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is expanding by absorbing pariah states, such as Iran, Burma (also known as Myanmar), and Belarus, while increasing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) military and economic reach around the globe. In early May, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait became official dialogue partners of the SCO, enhancing the…

Commentary The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s meeting this month in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was notable for two reasons. First, it was Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping’s first visit outside China since the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, the meeting showed that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is subordinate to China. Both are significant and reveal Xi’s growing confidence…