On April 27-28, 2026, a meeting of the Ministers of Defense of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its Defence Ministers Meeting on April 27-28, 2026, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was attended by the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov; the defense ministers of the SCO members; SCO Secretary General Mr. Nurlan Yermekbayev; and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Mr. Ularbek Sharsheev. These days the SCO chairmanship is held by the Kyrgyz Republic. The main focus of the meeting was on counter-terrorism, regional security, and, most importantly, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East or West Asia. The SCO has emerged from the Shanghai Five of 1996, and it took its modern form in 2001, and since then the membership has grown to a full 10 members, with an additional 17 SCO Partners. The SCO has three main objectives: eradicating terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
The President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov met and greeted the defense ministers of the SCO member states. In his opening address, President Japarov said that the SCO is fully committed to ensuring security and stability in the SCO member states. He also said that the SCO is paying special attention to “countering international terrorism, extremism, and transnational crime, as well as to strengthening trust and mutual understanding between armed forces.” The SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev paid special thanks to the Kyrgyz President for the continued support of the mandate of SCO. He said that “consolidating the efforts of member states in the field of security, coordinating the activities of defense agencies, and enhancing the effectiveness of joint measures to counter contemporary challenges and threats.”
SCO Defence Ministers Meeting 2026: Key Highlights
According to the press release by India’s Ministry of Defence, India expressed a very strong stance against terrorism, urged all member states to have zero tolerance against terrorism, highlighted regional security concerns and regional stability. It is good news that the Defence Minister of China Dong Jun and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held consultations and meetings on the sidelines of the meeting. It was reported that regional security was discussed between the two most important members of the SCO, and they share membership at BRICS as well.
The SCO Defence Ministers openly and freely expressed and discussed the “pressing issues of regional and international security, noting persistent challenges and threats including international terrorism, extremism, transnational crime, as well as new risks in the field of information and cybersecurity.” Besides this, the members also discussed the need for building mutual trust and understanding between and among the armed forces of the member states. For this, the members also emphasised for conducting joint military exercises, sharing military expertise, and enhancing military-to-military cooperation. These endeavours were envisaged while remaining within the framework of the SCO.
Would SCO play any role in the Middle East or West Asia
The SCO has a close affiliation with multilateral organizations such as BRICS. It is to be remembered here that Iran is an important BRICS member and a determined international actor committed to the multipolar world. The blatant American and Israeli aggression on Iran’s sovereignty is a matter of global concern, and the dangers emanating from the conflict could embroil the entire world. In such a situation, the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting is a very important development, and the world is watching it very closely. It is a fact that the members of the free world are looking towards the SCO for regional security and stability in the Middle East or West Asia.
Conclusion
The SCO is the truest reflection of the free world and the multipolar world. The SCO Defence Ministers Meeting 2026 was held at a very significant time when we are seeing unprecedented military conflict in the Middle East or West Asia. The meeting has sent a clear message to America and Israel, as they should not consider weak and vulnerable countries as completely helpless. The SCO is fully committed to ensuring security and stability in the Eurasian landmass, and its commitment should be taken seriously. And, the SCO’s aims of indivisible security could be extended beyond the Eurasian landmass. The victims of American and Israeli aggression are looking towards the SCO members, especially Russia and China, for security, prosperity, and stability.
The need of the hour is that SCO members must enhance their mutual cooperation and to minimise their mutual distrust. In this regard, the lack of trust between China and India, and Pakistan and India is to be addressed. These nations share history and disputed borders, which are to be resolved. These are very important SCO members and central to the multipolar world.
Simon Westwood is a Masters student at the Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland. He is also a Research Assistant at the DCU’s Department of History
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