FranceThe article discusses the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), highlighting its role as an alternative economic space for Russia and Iran amid Western sanctions. The SCO, based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, includes members such as China, Russia, India, and Iran, representing over 40% of the world’s population and around 30% of global GDP. Since Iran joined in 2023, the organization has become a refuge for sanctioned economies. Members have condemned unilateral Western sanctions, leveraging the influence of China and India to find new buyers, suppliers, and financial systems. Efforts include reducing reliance on the US dollar through yuan and ruble transactions, developing alternatives to SWIFT, and creating a SCO development bank. Energy exports are being redirected toward China via the North-South Corridor. However, the SCO faces internal divisions, particularly between India and China, and Beijing is protecting its banks from U.S. sanctions. The case of Egypt’s Misr Bank illustrates challenges, as Washington seeks to cut ties with a branch accused of facilitating $1.8 billion in transactions linked to Iranian networks.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of the SCO's geopolitical significance without overtly favoring any specific ideology. It reports on the actions and positions of multiple member states, including criticism of Western sanctions and the strategic interests of China, Russia, and Iran. While it
