In Bishkek, the SCO marks 25 years by casting itself as an alternative order to the West

China

incl. 1 state outlet

3 SOURCES

Sino-Russian duo, showcase of an alternative order · 2 of 7 countries

Beijing is framing its narrative of the summit around tangible cooperation rather than rivalry, presenting rail, trade, and Russian partnership as evidence of a multipolar order in the making.

France

incl. 1 state outlet

2 SOURCES

External perspective, Iranian prism · 1 of 7 countries

Paris views the Bishkek summit as less of a unified alliance and more as a stage for a diplomatic marathon, where isolated Iran seeks Russian and Chinese support in the face of American sanctions, between a showcased multipolar facade and unresolved internal rivalries.

India

4 SOURCES

Balanced partners, between SCO and Western ties · 3 of 7 countries

New Delhi is walking a tightrope in Bishkek: urging Vladimir Putin to shift from a "war of attrition" to a path toward ending the war, hosting Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian for the first time since the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran, while also maintaining its trade dialogue with Washington.

Iran

2 SOURCES

Iran's support tour · 1 of 7 countries

Tehran is transforming the Bishkek summit into a diplomatic support tour, holding bilateral meetings to present, from capital to capital, its choice of dialogue as an alternative to the "path of war" framed as the American approach.

Pakistan

6 SOURCES

Balanced partners, between SCO and Western ties · 3 of 7 countries

Islamabad takes from Bishkek a key diplomatic calendar event: the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2026-2027, before hosting the next summit itself, more than an alternative narrative to the West.

Russia

incl. 2 state outlets

4 SOURCES

Sino-Russian duo, showcase of an alternative order · 2 of 7 countries

Moscow is framing the Bishkek summit as a demonstration of an alternative order to the one led by the US, with Vladimir Putin holding multiple bilateral meetings and offering Beijing cooperation in artificial intelligence.

Turkey

incl. 1 state outlet

2 SOURCES

Balanced partners, between SCO and Western ties · 3 of 7 countries

Ankara is cultivating a balancing role in Bishkek: as a dialogue partner of the SCO since 2012 and a NATO member, Turkey sees this as an additional lever for its multidimensional foreign policy, without breaking away from its Western anchors.