# will Shanghai Cooperation Organization challeng USA and EU i near future? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 28, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569 "2006-05-28T21:26:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Minotaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/1 "2006-05-28T21:26:29Z")
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization which was founded on June 14, 2001 by leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, the People’s Republic of China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Among other nations of the wider region, Mongolia became the first country to receive observer status in the 2004 Tashkent Summit. Pakistan, India and Iran received observer status at the 2005 SCO summit in Astana of Kazakhstan on July 5, 2005. All four nations may soon become full members of the organization. It’s expected that Iran, Pakistan and India will be full members this year > **[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanghai_Cooperation_Organization)** > > The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political, economic and international security organisation of ten member states. It focuses on political, economic, security and counter-terrorism cooperation. It is the world's largest regional organisation in terms of geographic scope and population, covering at least 24% of the world's total area (65% of Eurasia) and 42% of the world population. As of 2024, its combined nominal GDP accounts for around 23%, while its GDP based on PPP ... [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HD18Ad02.html](http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/HD18Ad02.html) > [@](#): > > China, Russia welcome Iran into the fold ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/2 "2006-05-28T21:34:10Z")
Challenge in what way? ---
**Author:** ![Minotaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/3 "2006-05-28T21:39:33Z")
[QUOTE=DMC] Challenge in what way? [/QUOTE] if this is heading to be a powerblock when it comes to economy, politics and possible military ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/4 "2006-05-28T21:55:21Z")
[QUOTE=Minotaurus] if this is heading to be a powerblock when it comes to economy, politics and possible military [/QUOTE] It’s not already? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/5 "2006-05-28T22:49:45Z")
China and Russia together, forever, as bosom friends and allies. I can see it now. A beautiful world… ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/6 "2006-05-28T23:20:34Z")
No, The countries mentioned have too many differences and mutual mistrusts/hatreds to co-operate anywhere near as closely as the European states nevermind the 50 US states. India and Pakistan are still contemplating nuking each other, Russia and China have a history of antagonism, Iran and Pakistan are sympathetic to Islamic seperatists within the borders of the other states, India and China still have a disputed border, etc. These things aren’t unsurmountable, but it’s not going to happen anytime soon. In any forseeble confrontation, It’d be too easy for the EU and the US to peel of a few disatisfied member countries with bribes/threats/etc. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/7 "2006-05-29T04:39:54Z")
It’s gonna take a long time before SCO becomes anything of global importance. SCO is interesting as essentially a body that links central asian states with their powerful neighbors. Maybe some of the petroleum deals happening are a result of SCO. At the moment an extremely loose organization without a lot of trade or common political agenda to project beyond the org. ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/8 "2006-05-29T18:26:42Z")
**Minotaurus** , posting an OP that consists entirely of a quote from Wikipedia is not usually considered the best way to open a debate. ---
**Author:** ![Minotaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/9 "2006-05-29T18:35:39Z")
[QUOTE=Tyrrell McAllister] **Minotaurus** , posting an OP that consists entirely of a quote from Wikipedia is not usually considered the best way to open a debate. [/QUOTE] the debate lies in the tagline (what made it so important for you to point out this anyway?) ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/10 "2006-05-29T18:44:13Z")
[QUOTE=Minotaurus] the debate lies in the tagline (what made it so important for you to point out this anyway?) [/QUOTE] The convention in Great Debates is that the OP asserts a position and an argument in support of that position. Additional information, like a Wikipedia quote, might be provided to give context, but it should not be the entire post. You did not assert a position. You just posed a question without making an argument for any answer. I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I’m just telling you what most people expect in this forum. ---
**Author:** ![Minotaurus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Minotaurus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minotaurus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/11 "2006-05-29T18:47:04Z")
[QUOTE=Tyrrell McAllister] The convention in Great Debates is that the OP asserts a position and an argument in support of that position. Additional information, like a Wikipedia quote, might be provided to give context, but it should not be the entire post. You did not assert a position. You just posed a question without making an argument for any answer. I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I’m just telling you what most people expect in this forum. [/QUOTE] ye yes yes - I understand but do you have any opinions about the issue in the OP ? ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2006, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-shanghai-cooperation-organization-challeng-usa-and-eu-i-near-future/358569/12 "2006-05-29T18:51:28Z")
[QUOTE=Minotaurus] but do you have any opinions about the issue in the OP ? [/QUOTE] Do you? You haven’t posted any in this thread yet, and you’re the OP.