The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summits have always been more than just formal meetings – they are a stage where Russia and China demonstrate that they can rally a wide range of countries around them, despite Western criticism and sanctions. In 24 years, the SCO has become one of the largest regional international organizations – its member states account for more than a third of the world’s gross domestic product (by purchasing power parity) and about 42% of the planet’s population. And this weekend, not only Putin and Xi, but also Modi, Lukashenko, Aliyev, Erdogan and many other world leaders have been invited to the organization’s anniversary celebrations in China.

For Russia, this forum is an opportunity to once again demonstrate that even accusations of war crimes in Ukraine have not resulted in brief international isolation – because the SCO provides an opportunity to position itself as an integral participant in Eurasian security and energy negotiations.