Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia's bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) fits within the framework of the country’s balanced foreign policy.
Responding to concerns about potential contradictions between Armenia’s membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and joining the SCO—since some SCO members are also part of the CSTO—Pashinyan clarified that the two do not conflict. His comments were reported by Sputnik Armenia.
"We already hold observer status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. It's not as if we’re starting from zero or have had no contact. Discussions are underway suggesting possible structural reforms within the organization, such as eliminating the observer status. This isn’t the main reason, of course, but we do have a clear intention to become a full member of the organization," said Pashinyan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has announced the country’s intention to replace its observer role in the SCO with that of a full member.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established on June 15, 2001. Initially, it comprised six countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023. Armenia currently holds observer status.
