By Catherine Putz
BRICS to chart a course, SCO to expand, and the EEU to link up with the Chinese Silk Road.
Leaders from the BRICS countries and members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) are arriving in Ufa, Russia for their twin summits. Russian media is also reporting a meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries. RT is live-blogging, Modi tweeted a picture shortly after arriving and the Chinese released a handy explainer cartoon complete with a bicycle built for nine (ridden by the leaders of the BRICS and SCO). The festive atmosphere—RT reports that 10,000 visitors are expected to come through Ufa—belies serious questions of what direction the various organizations are moving in, how much, if at all, they matter, and how the Russo-Chinese relationship will shape the region’s future.
Russia seems to be the center of Eurasian diplomacy at the moment–coincidentally both summits are held on a rotating basis–hosting lends Moscow a glamour of international support. As Greg Shtraks pointed out in his preview of the BRICS/SCO summits last month, two sides have emerged globally–with Russia, China, and a “coterie of Eurasian autocracies” standing apart from the G-7, led by Europe and United States, which has reinforced its relations with East Asia. But while Russia is hosting, it is China’s economy (not counting the current stock-market meltdown), that drives the BRICS and China’s demand for energy and Silk Road plans that enrich Central Asia.
Read the full story at The Diplomat