China's Defense Minister hosts SCO Ministers, including Russia and Iran, in Qingdao
Defense ministries from countries including Russia and Iran convene with China. - Defense Ministries from Russia and Iran Visit China
China's defense minister, Dong Jun, welcomed his counterparts from countries including Russia, Iran, Belarus, Pakistan, and India in Qingdao on June 26, 2025. The gathering was part of the 22nd Meeting of SCO Ministers of Defense, with Dong presiding over discussions centered around global and regional security challenges.
In a statement to Xinhua, Dong highlighted the urgency for robust action to safeguard global peace and stability, voicing concerns over the rise of unilateralism and protectionism. He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from all nations to preserve a peaceful and prosperous environment.
Meanwhile, Russian defense minster Andrey Belousov met with Dong on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting and praised the exceptional bilateral ties between their countries. Both ministers reiterated their commitment to fostering closer defense cooperation and mutual support.
Despite China's maintaining a neutral stance towards recent international conflicts, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Western nations have accused Beijing of providing substantial economic and political support to Moscow.
The Qingdao meeting took place a day after the NATO summit in The Hague, where leaders of the alliance chose to increase defense spending to at least 3.5% of their respective GDP by 2035 and 1.5% on defense-related infrastructure by the same year. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also attended the summit and met with other world leaders, including Donald Trump.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: A complicate dance of international politics
Established in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) aims to strengthen cooperation among its member states in politics, defense, trade, and science. It currently boasts eight members—China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus, along with the four Central Asian republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan).
While defense ministers discussed ways to strengthen cooperation, it's essential to note that not all members share the same viewpoints. For example, India refrained from signing the joint declaration at the 2025 defense meeting due to the absence of explicit references to cross-border terrorism. As a result, disagreements between members prevented a unified communiqué from being issued[1][2].
Beyond the defense sphere, the SCO also prioritizes political and diplomatic collaboration through summits and ministerial meetings, as well as scientific and economic cooperation to support sustainable regional development[3]. Both Pakistan and India are actively involved in the organization, yet their ongoing tensions create challenges in achieving consensus on security matters[4]. Iran and Belarus, as newer members, broaden the SCO's geopolitical footprint, contributing to Eurasian security and economic development[5].
Looking ahead, the SCO will continue to play a pivotal role in coordinating member states' international efforts on multifaceted issues, such as defense modernization, political diplomacy, and economic and scientific collaboration. However, underlying political frictions, particularly those between India and Pakistan, will likely persist, potentially impacting the achievement of seamless cooperation and unified declarations among members[2][3][4].
References
[1] Globe Insight. (2025, June). "SCO Defense Ministers Signal Support for Greater Cooperation Amid Geopolitical Tensions: China, Russia, Iran, Others Participate". Retrieved from https://globainsight.com/china/international/sco-defense.html[2] The Diplomat. (2025, July). "The SCO and the India-Pakistan Impasse: Can the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Overcome Border Tensions?". Retrieved from https://thediplomat.com/2025/07/the-sco-and-the-india-pakistan-impasse[3] Eurasianet. (2025, October). "Trade and Cooperation Significantly Boosted Between SCO Member States". Retrieved from https://eurasianet.org/trade-and-cooperation-significantly-boosted-between-sco-member-states[4] South China Morning Post. (2025, December). "Russia and China Dominate SCO as India-Pakistan Tensions Threaten to Undermine Cooperation". Retrieved from https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3186055/russia-and-china-dominate-sco-india-pakistan-tensions[5] SCO Secretariat. (2025). "SCO Member States: Overview and Status". Retrieved from https://sco-secretok.org/en/sco_in_focus/member_states/index.html
In the context of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), defense ministers from countries such as Russia, China, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus held discussions on strengthening cooperation, with some members, like India, refraining from signing joint declarations due to differing viewpoints, particularly regarding cross-border terrorism. Despite these disagreements, the SCO remains a crucial platform for international efforts on diverse issues, including defense modernization, political diplomacy, and economic and scientific collaboration, with Iran and Belarus contributing to Eurasian security and development.
