Brazilian journalist Pepe Escobar believes that Russia, China and Iran are the main driving forces for Eurasian integration, writes the Bulgarian newspaper Glasove.
Against the backdrop of major upheavals in the world of geopolitics, it was so fitting that this year’s summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) heads of state was to be held in Samarkand, the final crossroads of the 2,500-year Silk Road.
After all, historically, the world in terms of the Silk Road reference point has always been “perceived as one and indivisible, not divided. This is the essence of the unique phenomenon – the ‘spirit of Samarkand'”.
All these years, the culture of the SCO has developed in a distinctively Chinese way. The original focus of the Shanghai Five was on counter-terrorism – months before the US terrorist war spread from Afghanistan to Iraq and beyond.
Over the years, the initial “three no’s” – no alliance, no confrontation and no targeting of a third party – eventually equipped a fast hybrid machine whose “four wheels” are “politics, security, economy and humanities”, complete with the Global Development Initiative, all of which contrast sharply with the priorities of the hegemonic, confrontational west.
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this week’s Samarkand summit is that Chinese President Xi Jinping presented China and Russia together as “responsible world powers” seeking to ensure the emergence of multipolarity and reject the arbitrary “order” imposed by the United States and its unipolar worldview.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Xi Jinping’s bilateral conversation with President Vladimir Putin as “excellent”. Xi Jinping had already stressed the common goals of Russia and China before their meeting and direct address to Putin:
“In the face of the colossal changes of our times on a global scale, unprecedented in history, we are ready together with our Russian counterparts to set an example of responsible global power and play a leading role to put such a rapidly changing world on a trajectory of sustainable and positive development,” the publication said.
Later, in the preamble to the summit, Xi Jinping got straight to the point: it is important “to prevent attempts by external powers to organise ‘colour revolutions’ in the SCO countries”. Well, Europe won’t be able to tell, because it has had non-stop colour revolutions since 1945.
Putin, for his part, has sent a message that will resonate throughout the Global South: “There is a fundamental transformation in world politics and economics, and it is irreversible.
Iran was the guest star of the show in Samarkand, officially accepted as the 9th member of the SCO. President Ibrahim Raisi, remarkably, stressed before the meeting with Putin that “Iran does not recognise sanctions against Russia. Their strategic partnership will be expanded. On the business side, an impressive delegation of the heads of 80 major Russian companies will visit Tehran next week.
The growing interpolation of Russia, China and Iran – the three main drivers of Eurasian integration – is scaring the hell out of the usual suspects, who may be beginning to realise that the SCO poses a serious challenge to their geo-economic game in the long term. So, as every grain of sand in every heart of the desert already knows, the geopolitical pressure on the trio will increase exponentially.
And then there was the mega-important Samarkand trilateral meeting: Russia-China-Mongolia. Perhaps discussed was the Power of Siberia-2 gas pipeline, a link pipeline to be built through Mongolia; and Mongolia’s increasing role in the crucial link corridor of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), now that China is not using the Trans-Siberian route for exports to Europe because of sanctions.
Putin briefed Xi Jinping on all aspects of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine and perhaps answered some really tough questions, many of which have been circulating on the Chinese internet for months.
The Russian president’s key conclusion: “There is no change in the plan for SSR. The basic tasks are being fulfilled.” As for the peace prospects, it is Ukraine that is “not ready to talk to Russia”. And in general, “it is regrettable that the West came up with the idea of using Ukraine to try to break up Russia”.
On his meeting with Xi Jinping: “It was an ordinary meeting, it’s been quite a long time, we didn’t have a face-to-face meeting. They talked about how to “expand trade turnover” and circumvent the “trade wars caused by our so-called partners”, with the “expansion of settlements in national currencies not progressing as fast as we want”.
Putin’s bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not have been more cordial – in the register of “special friendship” – with Modi calling for serious solutions to the food and fuel crises, effectively appealing to the West. Meanwhile, the State Bank of India will open special rupee accounts for trade related to Russia.
Another major reason was the increased attractiveness of the BRI initiative in close association with the SCO. China’s ambitious BRI project was officially launched by Xi Jinping in Astana (now Nur-Sultan) nine years ago. It will remain the overarching concept of China’s foreign policy for decades to come.
So, for all practical purposes, Xi Jinping and Putin in Samarkand outlined a roadmap for strengthening multipolarity – as emphasised in the final Samarkand Declaration signed by all SCO members, the journalist concluded.
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