As the world faces increasingly complex challenges—from economic downturns to geopolitical tensions—regional organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are becoming ever more important in promoting multilateral cooperation.

Recent comments by Indian scholar Sudheendra Kulkarni, founder of the Forum for a New South Asia and a close aide to India’s former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, have sparked renewed discussion about the SCO’s potential to not only bolster regional ties but also to challenge global trade protectionism.

The SCO, comprising eight member states that include both India and China, has emerged as a platform for dialogue and collaboration among some of the world’s most populous nations. At the heart of Mr. Kulkarni’s remarks is the idea that the SCO can act as a counterbalance to Western-driven sanctions and protectionist measures that have disrupted global markets. According to Kulkarni, this is particularly crucial for developing nations whose primary focus should be economic growth and poverty alleviation, rather than being caught in the crossfire of geopolitical rivalries.

One of the standout themes in Kulkarni’s statement is his emphasis on the necessity of moving away from dependence on the U.S. dollar and Western-controlled financial systems. Trade between India and China, which surpassed $136 billion last year, serves as a testament to the growing economic ties between these two Asian giants, even amid challenges. Kulkarni argues that organisations like SCO and BRICS have created new avenues for such cooperation, helping countries diversify their economic........

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