Azerbaijan seeks SCO observer status to boost regional influence

In an article by Modern Diplomacy, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana on July 4 underscored a pivotal moment for regional cooperation and economic integration. The “SCO Plus” summit, themed “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue—Striving Towards a Sustainable Peace,” called for an open global dialogue and a new security paradigm.

Azerbaijan’s participation, marked by President Ilham Aliyev’s attendance, highlighted the country's commitment to multilateral dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. This was Aliyev’s second appearance at the SCO summit, following the 2022 event in Samarkand, reflecting Azerbaijan’s growing role within the organization.

Established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the SCO now has ten full members, including India and Pakistan (2017), Iran (2022), and Belarus (2024). The organization’s expanding influence has attracted interest from other nations and international entities.

Secretary General Zhang Ming noted that several countries, including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka, have requested to upgrade their status from dialogue partners to observer countries, an intermediate step toward full membership. Currently, Mongolia and Afghanistan are the remaining observer countries, though Afghanistan’s status is uncertain due to its lack of a universally recognized government.

Azerbaijan, granted dialogue partner status at the 2015 Ufa summit, has expressed its desire for deeper integration. President Aliyev had previously indicated that Azerbaijan views its current status as a preliminary step toward full membership.

On April 16, 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping acknowledged Azerbaijan's application for observer status and pledged to consider it with SCO members. This intention was reiterated during a meeting with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on August 31, 2018, and was further supported in the joint declaration of July 3, 2024, which highlighted China’s commitment to advancing Azerbaijan’s SCO status.

As Azerbaijan seeks to expand its involvement with the SCO, it aims to leverage its strategic position and enhance its role in regional and global affairs. The SCO provides a platform for Azerbaijan to bolster its role as a bridge between East and West. This aligns with Azerbaijan’s strategic goals, including its investment in transport and infrastructure projects like the North-South and East-West corridors and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. These initiatives support faster trade routes between Asia and Europe, reinforcing Azerbaijan’s position as a logistics hub.

Additionally, Azerbaijan’s engagement with the SCO aligns with the organization’s growing focus on environmental issues, exemplified by the recent green development forum in Qingdao. Azerbaijan's hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) further underscores its commitment to global climate initiatives.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan's involvement in the SCO could positively impact the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Karabakh, emphasizing its role in regional stability. The inclusion of both Azerbaijan and Armenia in SCO projects could contribute to the security framework of the South Caucasus and the broader Eurasian region.

In summary, Azerbaijan’s pursuit of enhanced SCO partnership reflects its balanced foreign policy and strategic vision, aiming to harness cooperation with both Eastern and Western partners. This approach supports stability and development in the Eurasian space, reinforcing Azerbaijan’s role as a key player in regional and global contexts.