Armenia officially seeks membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Armenia has formally expressed its intention to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

In an official statement posted on social media, the Armenian Foreign Ministry affirmed the country’s alignment with the core principles upheld by the SCO, including respect for territorial integrity, the non-use of force, and the inviolability of borders, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“Sharing the fundamental principles of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, namely territorial integrity, non-use of force and inviolability of borders, the Republic of Armenia has expressed its desire to become a member of the SCO,” the ministry declared.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation currently comprises ten member states: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus.

The SCO is an intergovernmental entity founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its primary objectives are to enhance cooperation and maintain peace among its member states while promoting “a new democratic, fair, and rational international political and economic order.” The organisation expanded in 2017 to include India and Pakistan, followed by Iran’s accession in 2023.

The SCO serves as a significant regional platform, facilitating political, economic, and security collaboration across Eurasia and beyond.

By Vafa Guliyeva