India’s Entrance Into the SCO Boosts Russia’s Power Relative to China’s

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization welcomed two new members during its annual summit on June 8-9: India and Pakistan.

The sco is a Eurasian political, economic and security bloc that was created about two decades ago. And these two additions represent a significant increase in the group’s geopolitical relevance and population; Nearly one half of the world’s global population now lives within the sco’s bounds.

In the past, China had dominated this organization. But the addition of India could now tip more power toward Russia.

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has said the biblically prophesied “kings of the east” would be dominated not by China, but by Russia.

China and India have had a fraught relationship due in large part to border disputes and India’s hindrance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Russia, by contrast, has long been among India’s closest partners. The two have long had a robust relationship, including in military matters. Russia is India’s primary military partner and its number one arms supplier. With India’s entrance into the sco, Russia and India are poised to overcome the greatest obstacle to their bilateral trade: connectivity. With plans to expand and improve various trade routes, including the International North-South Transport Corridor, these connectivity issues are diminishing.

Watch how this move could boost Russia’s power within the the sco.