China convened defence ministers from Russia, Iran, and other Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) members in Qingdao, framing the gathering as a strategic counterweight to Western alliances. The meeting took place just as NATO leaders agreed to boost military spending, underscoring deepening global divisions. Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun criticized “hegemonic and bullying acts” while calling for stronger cooperation among SCO nations to ensure stability.
The SCO, long promoted by Beijing as an alternative to U.S.-led blocs, seeks to strengthen ties in security, trade, and technology. The Qingdao meeting—attended by officials from Russia, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus—comes at a critical time, with a fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire holding and NATO reinforcing its defence commitments. Dong warned against rising unilateralism, urging members to “safeguard peaceful development” amid global instability.
While Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov praised Russia-China relations as “unprecedentedly high,” India’s Rajnath Singh struck a more cautious tone, acknowledging globalization’s decline and calling for collective action. The differing statements reflect the SCO’s complex dynamics, where member states balance cooperation with their own strategic interests.
Despite claiming neutrality in the Ukraine war, China faces Western accusations of propping up Russia economically and diplomatically. The Qingdao meeting reinforces Beijing’s push for a multipolar world, even as global tensions escalate. With NATO strengthening and Middle East conflicts simmering, the SCO’s role as a counterbalance will be tested in the months ahead.