Шанхайская организация сотрудничества и проблемы региональной безопасности

Abstract

The article considers the place and role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the modern system of international relations. It analyzes the Organization’s role in regional security, its expansion process, as well as the SCO’s political and legal basis and structural subdivisions. It is noted that regional security remains the priority of the SCO member countries and the Organization itself; the focus of the Organization is on the fight against international terrorism and extremism. The SCO groundworks were set within the framework of the Shanghai Five Group. The main reason for the rapprochement of the five states was the need to settle mutual claims borders. Cooperation within the SCO allowed Kazakhstan to settle several disputed terri- torial issues, and the systematic and transparent reduction of the armed forces in the border areas contributed to the mitigation of military-political tension. An important moment in the Organization’s formation was the admission of India and Pakistan as full members that occurred during the Astana Summit. That expansion resulted in making the SCO one of the largest international organizations and the largest regional association in the world today. The paper presents the main provisions of the Declarations signed in Bishkek and Qingdao. The role of Kazakhstan in the SCO and the activities of the Shanghai Organization during the COVID-19pandemic are presented as separate aspects of the article.