India will host a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Tuesday, the regional alliance that Iran wants to join and where Russian President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech, officials said.
Chinese state media reported that President Xi Jinping will also attend the virtual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization – which is based in Beijing but is organized by India, which holds its rotating presidency – along with leaders from other member states.
The Kremlin announced on Monday that Putin would participate and speak at the summit, but without giving further details.
Last month, the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, led his forces in a revolt against Russia’s top military that lasted only a short while and embarrassed the Kremlin.
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Friday that Iran’s full accession will be approved during the summit, which will be chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Iran is currently active to break its international isolation by strengthening its relations with China and Russia and reconciling with its Arab neighbors, but also by reducing tension with Western countries.
“This accession is beneficial for Iran and the organization at the same time,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said, stressing that it would have “positive effects on economic development among the member states”.
Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will also participate in the summit, describing it as “an important forum for regional security and prosperity,” the Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001, currently includes eight countries: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan, and Belarus and Mongolia invited as observers.
Lavrov announced recently that during this meeting a memorandum on the obligations of Belarus, Moscow’s ally, will also be signed, which will also launch a procedure for full accession to this alliance.
