The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has announced the creation of a new consolidated partnership status — the SCO Partner— as part of an institutional reform aimed at streamlining its engagement with non-member states.
The decision was formally outlined in the Tianjin Declaration, adopted by heads of state during the recent SCO summit held in Tianjin, China,
According to the declaration, the SCO has merged the previously distinct classifications of “Observer State” and “Dialogue Partner” into a single unified category now officially titled SCO Partner. The reform seeks to simplify the organization’s external engagement structure and strengthen its cooperative frameworks with a wider range of countries.
This change paves the way for Azerbaijan, currently a Dialogue Partner, to acquire the new SCO Partner designation — a status that will formalize and potentially deepen Baku’s involvement in multilateral cooperation within the organization.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded in 2001, is one of the world’s largest regional blocs, both in terms of geographic scope and population. Its current full members include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and most recently, Belarus, which was granted full membership in 2024.
Prior to the reform, the SCO maintained three tiers of engagement: Full Members, Observer States, and Dialogue Partners. Under the revised model, Observer States such as Afghanistan and Mongolia, as well as Dialogue Partners including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Sri Lanka, will now fall under the broader “SCO Partner” umbrella.
Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, chaired a Ministry of Defence collegium meeting on February 14 to review the results of 2025 and set priorities for 2026.
Hasanov highlighted successful reforms in army development over the past year and conveyed directives from Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev to the Armed Forces,
He underlined that Azerbaijan’s defence capabilities play a key role in strengthening the country’s international standing and its position as a regional power. The discipline, combat readiness, and technical capabilities displayed by the Azerbaijani army during the November 8 military parade were particularly praised by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief.
The Defence Minister noted that measures continue to be implemented to safeguard Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, ensure military security, enhance operational readiness, and equip the army with modern weapons and technology. He also stressed the ongoing support of the Security Council, the State Security Service, and the Military Prosecutor’s Office in combating corruption, preventing illegal activities within the army, and organising counterintelligence operations. Joint efforts in these areas will continue throughout 2026.
