Usama Zahid
Bureau Chief,
Scandinavian News Finland
The host country and key participants for the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit remain uncertain, with conflicting signals emerging from member states.
According to the SCO’s established rotational system, the Kyrgyz Republic assumed the 2025 2026 chairmanship following
China’s term, which ended with the September 2025 summit in Tianjin. This arrangement points to Bishkek as the official host city for the 2026 Heads of State gathering.
However, statements by Pakistani officials — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks that Pakistan would host in 2027
contrast with more recent indications from Islamabad suggesting that preparations are already underway to stage the summit in 2026 instead of 2027.
This has raised questions about whether the SCO calendar could be adjusted.
Meanwhile, speculation continues about the attendance of major regional leaders. As of now,
there has been no official confirmation from either Russian President Vladimir Putin or Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Both leaders regularly participate in SCO summits, but their presence is typically confirmed only in the months leading up to the event.
Analysts say that whichever country hosts the 2026 summit — whether Kyrgyzstan or Pakistan — the participation of
Putin and Xi would be highly significant, reflecting the organisation’s growing role in Eurasian security and economic cooperation.
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