SCO Summit in Bishkek Marks 25th Anniversary Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Leaders of Russia, China, India, and Iran are set to gather in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, for a major summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional bloc positioning itself as a counterweight to Western influence. The two-day meeting, marking the SCO's 25th anniversary, begins on August 31, 2026, and will bring together around a dozen heads of state amid ongoing wars and trade tensions involving several member nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to arrive in Bishkek for the summit, which will be chaired by Kyrgyz leader Sadyr Japarov.