Putin, Xi hold talks in Kyrgyzstan as regional summit begins

Russia's economy has become increasingly dependent on China during its 4 1/2-year invasion of Ukraine.(AFP) — Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping began talks Monday in Kyrgyzstan, where a dozen other heads of state also gathered for a two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which seeks to serve as a counterweight to the West.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were also among those in Bishkek for the summit of the regional bloc, known as the SCO, which is marking its 25th anniversary.The summit comes 4 1/2 years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and six months into the war between the United States and Iran.Putin and Xi have previously used SCO summits to promote their vision of a multipolar world and present a united front against the West.Xi told Putin he was “happy” to see him, saying China-Russia ties had become “more solid” and that their “prospects will be even brighter.”“The amount of uncertainty and unpredictability in the international order has obviously increased,” Xi said.Putin told Xi, “Cooperation is successfully developing on all fronts.” The two last met in May.Russia’s economy has become increasingly dependent on China during its 4 1/2-year invasion of Ukraine. Western countries have called on Beijing to pressure Moscow to end its offensive.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that the two leaders discussed the war in Ukraine only “in passing.”Putin is also expected to hold separate talks with Pezeshkian.Russia and Iran, among the most heavily sanctioned countries in the world, have significantly deepened their military and economic ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine.War not ‘in our interest’U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Moscow and Beijing against arming Iran.Putin’s meeting with Pezeshkian comes days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare trip to Moscow, with U.S. media speculating that he could have discussed Ukraine and Iran with Russian officials.Speaking in Bishkek after the first exchange of fire between the United States and Iran in a month, Pezeshkian said continuing the war was not in Tehran’s interest.“We continue to strive for a path of agreement and understanding, and we believe that continuing the war is neither in our interest, nor in the interest of the region,” he told Modi.Putin, Xi, Pezeshkian, Modi and Sharif are due to take part in a plenary session chaired by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.The SCO has historically focused on economic issues but has gained momentum in recent years under the leadership of Moscow and Beijing.In addition to its 10 members, it has 15 “dialogue partners,” including Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.It also has two observer countries: Afghanistan and Mongolia.Real and trade warsThe Bishkek summit comes as some SCO members are embroiled in wars — including the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran — or trade disputes stemming from U.S. tariffs on Chinese and Indian goods.This month, the United States imposed secondary sanctions on Iran’s trading partners in the gold, technology, digital assets, aviation and maritime transport sectors, aiming to cripple Tehran’s economy.Washington has also threatened Iran’s allies with sanctions.China, a major importer of Iranian oil, responded by saying it would “firmly defend” its interests.Iran, which has faced sanctions since its 1979 Islamic Revolution, has repeatedly said it will not bow to economic pressure.But Pezeshkian has acknowledged that his country faces “economic difficulties.”Iran joined the bloc in 2023.Mohammad Hassan Najmi, an international relations expert, told AFP that Tehran “believes its membership and active participation in these alliances can enable it to circumvent US and European sanctions.”But the group’s concrete benefits are uncertain, he said, because “in times of crisis, these alliances have rarely allowed Iran to resolve its difficulties.”While the bloc says it represents about 40% of the world’s population and 25% of global gross domestic product, it remains diverse, with disagreements among its members.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads