Putin meets Erdogan and Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan on this Wednesday, according to Kremlin reports. Putin is scheduled to meet Erdogan on the eve of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in the Kazakhstani capital Astana, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday. The meeting between the two leaders has been planned for some time in Turkey. On this Thursday, Putin is also set to meet China's Party and State leader Xi Jinping at the summit of the organization for security issues.
According to the Kremlin, Putin is also scheduled to hold talks with the presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. Meetings are also planned with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Iranian Vice President. Putin has repeatedly stated during his military campaign against Ukraine, in the face of tensions with the West, that he seeks to establish a new world order – without US hegemony.
Currently, the rotating chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), to which China also belongs, is held by the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. The SCO was originally founded in 2001 for counter-terrorism purposes. In addition to China, the organization includes Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In the Russia-friendly group, Putin is unlikely to face criticism for his military campaign in Ukraine. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not expected at the summit, according to Kremlin reports. He is scheduled to visit Russia afterwards.
- Despite the meeting with Erdogan in Kazakhstan, Putin has mentioned his desire for a new world order, stating that he wants to eliminate US hegemony.
- During the SCO summit in Astana, Putin is anticipated to discuss matters with China's Xi Jinping, highlighting the importance of insulation between their nations' interests.
- Interestingly, none of the leaders from the G7 countries, including Erdogan's ally Turkey, are attending the SCO summit in Kazakhstan, which is being chaired by none other than Putin's Kazakhstani counterpart.
