In a world witnessing major transformations in the international system and the rise of multilateral regional blocs, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has assumed a prominent position, especially with the expansion of its membership and the increase in its political and economic weight. The organization was founded in June 2001 in Shanghai, and initially included six countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023. Belarus became the tenth member, officially joining as a full member of the SCO in July 2024 during the summit of heads of state in Astana, Kazakhstan. With this expansion, the organization now encompasses approximately 60 percent of the area of Eurasia, with more than 3.4 billion people living in its member states, equivalent to nearly half of the world's population, while the combined GDP of its members exceeds $23 trillion. This economic and political weight has made the organization the focus of attention of many Middle Eastern countries, particularly Arab countries that have recently begun to join it as "dialogue partners," such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Algeria has also submitted a formal request to join. This Arab openness reflects a growing awareness of the organization's importance as a rising power capable of rebalancing international relations and providing strategic alternatives to Western hegemony.
اضافة اعلان
For Arab countries, joining the SCO is driven by several considerations. From a security perspective, the region has long suffered from terrorism, sectarian conflict, and instability, issues that have made national security a top priority. Since its founding, the SCO has placed combating the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism at the top of its agenda, and has worked to establish mechanisms for intelligence coordination and organize joint military exercises. With the accession of Arab countries, this experience could provide additional support in confronting common security challenges, especially given the presence of sensitive issues such as the situation in Afghanistan, which the organization has given special attention through regional coordination mechanisms.
On the economic front, the picture is clearer. Trade volume between China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states reached approximately $512.4 billion in 2024, a 2.7 percent increase compared to the previous year. Imports included nearly $90 billion worth of oil, gas, and coal, in addition to $13.66 billion worth of agricultural products, with energy imports accounting for approximately one-fifth of China's total imports.
Investment and industrial cooperation have also witnessed remarkable growth, with more than 3,000 companies established in SCO countries, creating over 200,000 jobs annually. Tianjin is scheduled to host the SCO 2025 summit in late August, with the participation of leaders from more than 20 countries to develop a development plan for the next decade. Joint projects are beginning to take shape. Last March, the Chinese company Haier laid the foundation stone for Egypt's first eco-friendly digital industrial complex within the framework of SCO cooperation, setting a model for industrial cooperation that will open the door to further investment. Given that the Middle East possesses the world's largest oil and gas reserves, while the organization includes major energy consumers such as China and India, integration in this field seems intuitive and promising, especially in light of efforts to reduce reliance on the dollar and adopt national currencies in trade.
The political dimension is no less important. Arab accession to an organization led by China and Russia reflects a clear desire to be freed from Western pressure. Observers considered the entry of traditional US allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE to this organization a direct message to Washington that the region is reshaping its priorities and balances. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the Arab countries' accession, emphasizing that the organization is open to all parties. Other analysts believe that this trend reflects a new Arab policy that seeks to diversify partnerships and expand the network of interests away from dependence on a single axis.
However, despite these gains, challenges remain. Arab countries remain in the status of "dialogue partners," not full members, a status that limits their influence in the organization's decision-making process. Geopolitical differences among some members, such as China and India, or Iran and Pakistan, make it difficult for the organization to transform into a cohesive alliance similar to the European Union. Furthermore, the close economic and military ties many Arab countries have with the West may force them to carefully consider the extent to which they will deepen their engagement in an organization sometimes viewed as a "NATO of the East."
However, the future prospects appear promising. With the accelerating changes in the international landscape, Arab countries could upgrade from their current status to observer or even full membership if they demonstrate seriousness in their commitment to cooperation. This would open up greater opportunities for them to benefit from regional infrastructure projects and transcontinental trade corridors sponsored by the organization, such as the North-South Corridor linking Russia to India via Iran, or other transport corridors aimed at connecting Central Asia to the Middle East and Europe.
Ultimately, Arab participation in the SCO is no longer merely a symbolic step; it is a strategic direction in line with a world moving toward multipolarity. The organization, which represents a quarter of the global economy and more than half of its population, offers Arab countries an opportunity to enhance their national security, diversify their economic partnerships, and expand their political maneuverability. Success in this endeavor depends on the ability of these countries to overcome external pressures and develop a clear vision for their place within this growing bloc. In light of the current international crises, it appears that the SCO could become one of the most important platforms on which Arabs can rely to build a more independent, secure, and developed future.
