The two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin wrapped up on Monday, bringing together Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and leaders from over a dozen Eurasian nations. The gathering projected a display of unity at a time when US President Donald Trump’s tariff war is reshaping global economic and geopolitical dynamics.
In a clear dig at Trump’s global tariff drive, Xi said in his opening speech Monday that the “shadows of Cold War mentality and bullying have not gone away, and new challenges are growing.”
What is SCO?
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a powerful Eurasian bloc that now brings together India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian states. Together, its members account for 80 per cent of the world’s land mass, 40 per cent of the world’s population and nearly 23 per cent of the world’s GDP.
While the group was created in the 1990s to settle border disputes, it has grown into an organisation that promotes economic and military cooperation.
Here is a look at the economic and military might of its key members.
India
India’s economy crossed 4 trillion dollars in 2025, making it the fourth largest in the world. Services account for nearly half of its GDP, while manufacturing contributes about a third. Despite facing a massive 50 per cent tariff imposed by Trump, India remains one of the fastest growing major economies, with growth at 7.8 per cent in the most recent quarter. Experts believe the country is poised to become the third largest economy by 2028.
India also has the second largest military in the world with about 1.46 million active troops, 1.15 million reserves, and 2.5 million paramilitary personnel. The country has raised its defence budget to more than 79 billion dollars in 2025–26, most of which goes into modernising equipment, much of it sourced from Russia.
China
China has the world’s second largest economy at around 19 trillion dollars. Its economy is heavily based on manufacturing and services, but it is slowing down. Manufacturing activity has been falling for months, local governments are short of money, and unemployment is rising. Trump’s tariffs have put even more pressure on Beijing.
China also has the largest military in the world, with about 2 million active duty soldiers, more than half a million reserves, and over 600,000 paramilitary troops. The official defence budget is 249 billion dollars in 2025, though analysts believe the real figure is much higher.
Russia
Russia’s economy is smaller at 2.2 trillion dollars, ranking 11th globally. Despite sanctions, it managed growth of over 4 per cent in 2023 and 2024, but in 2025 the pace slowed to just over 1 per cent.
Russia still spends heavily on defence, allocating 126 billion dollars in 2025, about a third of its federal budget. It maintains 1.32 million active soldiers, 2 million reserves, and around 250,000 paramilitary personnel. Its armed forces are ranked second in the world.
Pakistan
Pakistan’s economy is in deep trouble. With a GDP of only 410 billion dollars, it is more than ten times smaller than India’s. Inflation is high, electricity shortages are routine, and the country continues to rely on bailouts from the IMF. Fiscal mismanagement and political instability have left its economy weak and stagnant.
Despite its poor finances, Pakistan spends heavily on its military. Its defence budget for 2024–25 is between 7.6 and 10 billion dollars. The country has about 660,000 active soldiers, 550,000 reserves, and nearly 300,000 paramilitary forces. But much of its military hardware is imported from China, making it dependent on foreign suppliers. Pakistan’s ranking in global military strength has fallen to 12th, slipping from its earlier position.
Iran
Iran has a GDP of about 410 billion dollars, similar in size to Pakistan’s. Sanctions, inflation, and currency collapse have left the economy struggling.
Iran has around 610,000 active military personnel and 350,000 reserves. It spends about 2.5 per cent of its GDP on defence, with much of it focused on missile development.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan has a GDP of 261 billion dollars and grew 4.8 per cent in 2024. It keeps a small military force of about 39,000 soldiers and 31,500 paramilitary personnel.
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan’s economy is much smaller at 17.5 billion dollars. It maintains around 10,900 active soldiers and 9,500 paramilitary personnel.
Tajikistan
Tajikistan relies heavily on remittances from workers in Russia, which make up over a third of its GDP. Its economy grew strongly in 2024 and 2025, but it remains poor. The country has only 9,500 active duty personnel, 20,000 paramilitary troops, but keeps about 600,000 in reserve.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has a GDP of 114.9 billion dollars and grew 6.5 per cent in 2024, though inflation remains high. Its military includes around 48,000 active soldiers and 20,000 paramilitary forces.
Belarus
Belarus, which joined the SCO in 2024, has a GDP of 75.9 billion dollars. Its economy grew 4 per cent last year. The country has about 45,000 active soldiers, nearly 290,000 reserves, and 110,000 paramilitary personnel.
The SCO brings together some of the world’s strongest economies and militaries, particularly China, India, and Russia. But not every member is in good shape. Pakistan, despite its large army, stands out as a weak link. Its economy is unstable, heavily dependent on loans, and unable to match its military ambitions. In contrast, India, China, and Russia dominate both economically and militarily, giving the SCO its real weight on the global stage.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
