Uzbekistan Hosts Leadership Summit

The annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conference will begin today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

As one of the largest regional organizations worldwide, SCO-member Heads of State convene each year to discuss Eurasian priorities. This year’s agenda focuses on peace and security in the region, reducing poverty and ensuring food security. Key leaders to be in attendance include Vladimir Putin of Russia and Narendra Modi of India.

Despite his country’s strict ‘zero-COVID’ policy, Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to be in physical attendance. This is his first foreign visit in three years, and he may undermine his legitimacy with Chinese citizens by breaking national COVID-protocol to meet with allied leaders in person. President Xi is expected to meet with his Russian counterpart to reaffirm their close relationship.

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Expect China and Russia statement reaffirming their close relationship following the Leadership Summit. This will likely see increased purchase of discounted Russian oil to Chinese buyers, especially as Russia is cutting off Europe from energy supplies. This will help fund Russia’s continuing war in the short- to medium-term but is unlikely to increase their military effectiveness. China is not likely supply military supplies for fear of running afoul of US and Western sanctions.