Saudi Arabia joins the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

It has been announced that Saudi Arabia has decided to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a “dialogue partner”.

According to the news from the official agency of Saudi Arabia SPA, the Cabinet approved the proposal to be a “dialogue partner” of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Dialogue partner status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a stage and a preliminary step towards full membership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Riyadh in December 2022. During his visit, a “comprehensive strategic partnership agreement” was signed between Saudi Arabia and China.

The SCO, in which Turkey is a “dialogue partner”, was first established as the “Shanghai Five” in 1996, when representatives of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan met in Shanghai, China, and signed the Agreement to Deepen Military Confidence in the Border Regions.

With the participation of Uzbekistan in 2001, the name of the Shanghai Five was changed to “Shanghai Cooperation Organization”. Subsequently, Pakistan and India were admitted to the organization as full members.

In addition to 8 members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has 4 observer members in the process of full membership and 6 dialogue partners, including Turkey. (AA)