IRAN TO SCO

Why will the entry of the SCO’s newest member aggravate its image of being
‘antiWest’?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic, and
security organization founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In 2021, Iran and India were admitted as new members.

The SCO has been criticized by some for being an "anti-Western" bloc. This is due
in part to the fact that several of its members, including China and Russia, have
had tense relations with the West in recent years. Iran's membership in the SCO has
only exacerbated these concerns.

Iran is a major oil producer and has close ties to Russia and China. It has also
been at odds with the West over its nuclear program and human rights record. Some
experts believe that Iran's membership in the SCO could give it a platform to
further its anti-Western agenda.

In addition, the SCO's expansion to include Iran and India has led to concerns that
the organization is becoming more focused on security and less on economic
cooperation. This could further alienate the West, which has long seen the SCO as a
rival to its own security and economic interests in the region.

Overall, the entry of Iran into the SCO has aggravated its image of being "anti-
Western." This is due to a number of factors, including Iran's close ties to Russia
and China, its history of tensions with the West, and the SCO's increasing focus on
security. It remains to be seen how the SCO will evolve in the years to come, but
its membership of Iran is likely to continue to complicate its relations with the
West.