Vladimir Putin Attends SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan

President Vladimir Putin landed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Monday to participate in the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This summit includes a series of bilateral discussions with leaders from various countries such as China and India.

Upon arrival, a Moscow Times correspondent noted a significant police presence and heavy traffic in the capital ahead of the summit. Putin's first engagement will be a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, focusing on the Power of Siberia 2 natural gas pipeline project, which has faced delays.

Following this, he will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among other leaders. These initial talks, along with a subsequent meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are part of Putin’s agenda of nine bilateral discussions scheduled through Tuesday.

On Monday, Putin is also expected to attend the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games, which is a biennial event showcasing traditional Central Asian sports including horseback archery, falconry, and mounted wrestling.

During the summit, Putin will engage with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for their first discussion since the onset of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran earlier this year. Topics concerning Black Sea security and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine will also be on the agenda in talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Additionally, a discussion with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is planned, addressing Armenia's increasing alignment with the European Union and the situation regarding pro-Russian opposition figures in the country.

Traveling with a compact delegation of seven officials, Putin's team includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, among others. The SCO, comprising 10 members including Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and four Central Asian republics, was established in 2001 to counter Western influence in Eurasia.

After the SCO summit concludes, Putin is set to travel directly to Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic Forum. The summit reflects ongoing cooperation among member states in tackling regional and global issues.