Armenia Seeks Membership in Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Armenia has officially expressed its desire to become a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

"Sharing the core principles of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - namely, territorial integrity, non-use of force, and the inviolability of borders - the Republic of Armenia has expressed its intention to join the SCO," the Armenian Foreign Ministry said, The Caspian Post reports via Interfax.

The SCO currently includes ten member states: Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental organization founded in 2001 to promote political, economic, and security cooperation across Eurasia. Originally formed by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the SCO has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, bringing its total membership to ten countries.

The organization focuses on a wide range of issues, including regional stability, counterterrorism, trade, cultural exchange, and infrastructure development.