China, Russia and Iran used the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's 25th-anniversary summit in Bishkek to tighten diplomatic and economic ties as tensions with Washington rise. Sideline talks exposed friction between China and India, Russia and Armenia, and India and Pakistan, while Modi pressed ahead with new uranium deals across Central Asia.
Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Masoud Pezeshkian led the lineup as the SCO's annual gathering opened in the Kyrgyz capital on August 31, marking the bloc's 25th year. The agenda centered on trade, digital connections and cultural exchange, but perhaps the most significant discussions were expected on the sidelines of the formal event.
Iran and Russia lean on Beijing
Pezeshkian arrived seeking Chinese and Russian backing to blunt the impact of expanding US sanctions. Putin, meanwhile, worked to reassure fellow members that Russia remains a potent economic and military power despite a faltering war effort in Ukraine.
That reassurance comes against a difficult backdrop. Kyiv's drone waves have inflicted extensive damage on Russia's energy infrastructure and military-industrial complex. The Russian army appears stalled on the front while incurring a grievous number of casualties.
Rival powers share the room
The summit also seated leaders whose countries are at odds. Modi and Xi were both expected at the opening ceremony, yet Indian media reported the two leaders were unlikely to hold a face-to-face meeting.
Putin was set to meet Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is attending as an observer, to discuss their differences over Yerevan's push for European Union membership. Pakistan is due to host the next annual SCO summit in 2027, and Indian officials have signaled they remain undecided on attending.
India deepens Central Asian ties
Before arriving in Bishkek, Modi stopped in Uzbekistan, where he signed an agreement on mineral resources and mining. The two governments will now work toward a long-term deal for Uzbekistan to export uranium to India. Earlier in 2026, India struck a $4 billion uranium deal with Kazakhstan, extending New Delhi's push to secure Central Asian uranium supply.
Source: OilPrice.com
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