Old Players, New Moves: India’s Strategy in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

As global power dynamics shift toward multipolarity, India’s challenge lies not in adaptation, but in shaping the new order. A new HCSS Snapshot by Assistant Analyst Anna Hoefnagels and Strategic Analyst Benedetta Girardi, Old Players, New Moves: India’s Strategy in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, explores how India can use its membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to advance its regional and global ambitions.

While global dynamics appear to be shifting from a unipolar to a bipolar system dominated by the United States and China, these changes may in fact enable a more multipolar order. As one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies—forecasted to expand by 6.4% through 2026 — India is uniquely positioned to shape this transition. Yet, translating potential into influence requires sustained diplomatic investment and strategic agility.

The report identifies three key pathways for India to leverage its SCO membership:

1. Reform institutional priorities and promote equitable governance, ensuring that the SCO’s agenda better reflects the interests of all member states rather than dominant powers.
2. Deepen partnerships with Central Asian states to strengthen multipolar cooperation, using the SCO as a platform to expand dialogue, economic links and regional development.
3. Balance competing regional powers through institutional and diplomatic means, allowing India to navigate rivalry with China, Russia, and Pakistan while advancing its strategic autonomy.

The paper assesses whether the opportunities of SCO membership outweigh its challenges — and how India’s strategic moves today can shape the rules of tomorrow’s global game. 

Author: Anna Hoefnagels Editor: Benedetta Girardi

Cover photo: Canva AI Generated