What is the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation?
Conflicting visions among its growing membership mean it poses little threat to the West
WESTERN LEADERS may cast a nervous glance at Samarkand, a city in Uzbekistan, where the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) gathers for a summit on September 15th and 16th. China’s president, Xi Jinping, on his first foreign trip since the outbreak of covid-19, is expected to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Others attending include Iran’s president, Ebrahim Raisi; his country is set to become a full member. Western leaders are pointedly not invited to the meeting, the organisation’s first summit since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. What does the SCO do, and should it worry the West?
Discover more
How far do Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ on policy?
A short guide to their plans for America—which are more similar than their opposing styles suggest
SpaceX just tested its Starship. Why does that matter?
A guide to the reusable spaceship’s trip—and where it might lead for space travel
What is Kamala Harris’s record as a prosecutor?
Republicans say she was soft on crime. Progressives say she was too harsh
Can Donald Trump use songs against a musician’s will?
Many stars have complained, and some have filed lawsuits
What is the Fed’s preferred inflation measure?
The PCE gauge is broader and more dynamic than its better-known relative, the CPI
Will Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris matter?
Celebrity endorsements are unlikely to change voters’ minds. But they may boost turnout