Belarus has become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

This decision was formalized at the SCO summit in Astana on Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who chaired the summit, announced Belarus’ admission.

“The admission of the Republic of Belarus to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full-fledged member is now effective,” Tokayev said after documents to admit the republic as the organization’s 10th member had been signed.

“The decision on the full membership of the Republic of Belarus in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has been made. Dear Aleksandr Grigorievich, I sincerely congratulate you on this. I am sure that today will become a bright page in the history of Belarus.”
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

He expressed confidence that Belarus will make a significant contribution to strengthening security in the SCO space.

Belarus became a dialogue partner in the SCO in 2010 and an observer state in 2015.

Following the SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Samarkand on 16 September 2022, a document was signed to launch the process of Belarus’ accession to the organization as a full-fledged member. As part of this process, Belarus has acceded to more than 40 treaties.

The SCO now has 10 members, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners.

The grouping was established in 2001 by China, Russia and the four ex-Soviet Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to promote regional security and economic cooperation.

It was later joined by India, Pakistan and Iran.

The two observer states are Afghanistan and Mongolia.

The14 dialogue partners are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.

Lukashenko Calls Admission A Milestone

In his speech at the summit, Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko asserted that the day Belarus joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will go down in the history of the country as an important milestone.

Lukashenko thanked the host of the summit; Kazakhstan, for the excellent organization of the forum and the warm welcome in Astana.

“I want to acknowledge your successful work as the SCO chair and your contribution to helping Belarus become member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an event that will go down in Belarus’ history as an important milestone.”
Alexander Lukashenko

Lukashenko called it symbolic that Belarus joined the SCO in the year when it marks the 80th anniversary of liberation from the Nazi invaders.

“This is a wonderful gift to the Belarusian people,” the Belarusian leader said.

Lukashenko also thanked the heads of state of the SCO members for their unanimous support for this decision.

He named the areas that Belarus will highlight as a full-fledged member of the organization such as international security, economy, food security, international standing and mutual enrichment of cultures

He assured that the country is ready to work shoulder to shoulder with the new chairmanship to implement joint priority projects.

China will take over the SCO chairmanship from Kazakhstan.

“We strongly believe that in the 21st century it is imperative to build genuine and indivisible global security. That said, the countries of the global majority should take the lead, since the self-obsessed and self-centered West failed to do this. Today there are no leaders there who are capable of making important decisions on their own.”
Alexander Lukashenko

He assured that Belarus will try to adapt its initiatives in this crucial area.

“We will make every effort to ensure that our organization is gaining more weight and the number of its allies and supporters expands,” Lukashenko stressed.