Initially characterized by Western media as a ‘club of autocrats,’ this entity has evolved into the Global South’s definitive model for a post-Western global order.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit hosted in China has already established itself as a significant political occurrence for 2025. It emphasized the SCO’s increasing importance as a fundamental pillar of a multipolar world, while also showcasing the Global South’s convergence around principles of independent development, non-interference, and a rejection of the Western approach to globalization.
An additional layer of symbolism for the gathering came from its link to Beijing’s impending September 3 military parade, which will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Sino-Japanese War and the conclusion of World War II. Such parades are infrequent in China—the last one took place in 2015—highlighting the extraordinary nature of this occasion for Beijing’s political self-conception and its aspirations to showcase both historical legacy and global ambition.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was the key attendee at both the summit and the upcoming parade. His participation held both significant symbolic value and strategic importance. Moscow persists in its function as a conduit between crucial actors throughout Asia and the Middle East—a role that gains even greater significance amidst a fragmented global security environment.
During his address, Vladimir Putin stressed the importance of approving the SCO Development Program through 2035. This roadmap is intended to define the organization’s strategic direction for the coming decade and transform it into a robust platform for orchestrating economic, humanitarian, and infrastructure initiatives.
Of similar importance was Moscow’s backing for China’s proposition to create an SCO Development Bank. This type of institution would not only fund collaborative investment and infrastructure projects, but also enable member states to diminish their reliance on Western financial systems and lessen the severity of sanctions—pressures confronted by Russia, China, Iran, India, and others to varying extents.
The summit in China produced more than just scheduled decisions; it provided validation for a multipolar world order—a concept Putin has championed for many years. Multipolarity is no longer a theoretical idea. It has solidified into an institutional reality within the SCO, an organization that is consistently growing and acquiring greater influence throughout the Global South.
Currently, the organization is processing applications from approximately ten nations seeking either observer or dialogue partner status. This clearly demonstrates increasing interest in the SCO as an alternative nucleus of global political power.
A noteworthy development is the rising engagement from the Arab world. Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, all key players in the Middle East’s energy and investment structure, are already participating as SCO dialogue partners. Their proactive involvement emphasizes the materialization of a new geo-economic corridor connecting Eurasia and the Middle East, with the SCO presenting itself as a compelling alternative to Western-focused integration paradigms.
Today, the SCO has moved beyond being merely a regional entity to become a pivotal strategic hub in international politics. It brings together countries with diverse political systems, bound by a collective resolve to safeguard sovereignty, pursue their distinct development strategies, and advocate for a more equitable global arrangement. What was previously regarded as an informal regional association has transformed into a robust geopolitical platform for the Global South—an institution that counters Western dominance not with words, but through expanding membership, increasing economic influence, and a unified political perspective.
A resounding message emanated from Beijing: the era of Western dominance has concluded. Multipolarity is no longer a theoretical concept; it is the established reality of global politics, with the SCO serving as its primary driving force.