Belarus joins SCO, set to combat sanctions

July 4, Pozirk. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) summit in Kazakhstan’s Astana has approved Belarus’ membership two years after Minsk filed its application, Russia’s TASS reports.
Belarus is ready to “consistently implement anti-sanctions approaches” in cooperation with the SCO, Alaksandar Łukašenka told Kazinform yesterday.
Minsk will focus on international security, economy, food security and SCO’s international policies, Pul Pervogo, the unofficial Telegram channel of the Belarusian ruler’s press office, reports today, quoting him as saying.
“The narcissistic, selfish West has proved incapable” of ensuring global security, he said. “We have the power to break down the walls of the unipolar world, to feed people by eliminating many contradictions and conflicts caused by social inequality, food and resource shortages.”
Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran joined in 2023. Belarus has been the SCO’s partner since 2010 and an observer since 2015.
Approval of Belarus’ membership shows “a lack of commitment to democratic principles within the SCO,” Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has said on X.

Economic assistance, market access, China ties among benefits Belarus expecting from SCO
- PoliticsMEPs sign over 800 postcards to Belarus' prisonersThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsArchitect of Belarus’ democratic constitution hopes it will become a realityThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityPundit: Łukašenka wrong to underestimate EuropeThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Economy, PoliticsŁukašenka set to build second nuclear power plant in BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsLithuanian MP backs revocation of residence permits over trips to BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsOpposition politician: Łukašenka sells Belarus’ sovereignty for Putin’s supportThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsInterior ministry brands 28 people as extremistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyCash in circulation up 22 percent year on year – central bankThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyBelarus accounts for 93 percent of dairy imports to RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsReprisals: exiled Belarusian journalist wanted in RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyRussia made available just over 30 percent of $1.5 billion import substitution loanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsŁukašenka, Putin enact treaty on security guaranteesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityŁukašenka reiterates commitment to Russia, says Belarus building vehicles for OreshnikThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsUkrainian MP urges Kyiv to step up support for Belarus’ freedom effortThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsKyiv files lawsuit to seize Biełaruśkalij assetsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy, Politics, SecurityLithuanian PM warns against easing sanctions on Belarus’ potash industryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, Security
- EconomyLithuania intercepts four drones smuggling cigarettes from BelarusThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka hoping embassy will help him strengthen ties with the VaticanThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: defense company employee accused of calling for sanctionsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- SocietyŁukašenka sacks police academy chiefThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsKGB designates open-source intelligence project Phoenix extremist groupThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityBelarus, Russia to develop system for sharing checkpoint data on third-country travelersThe material is available only to POZIRK+