SCO Heads of State Council 25th Meeting: Defense Minister Calls for Collective Action to Dismantle the Entire Terrorist Apparatus

The 25th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) sent a strong message regarding regional security and stability. During this high-level meeting, defense ministers called on all member states to take collective action to dismantle the entire network of terrorism. The primary objective of the meeting was focused on formulating a coordinated strategy against terrorism, extremism, and other security-related challenges.

Participants in the meeting concluded that terrorism is one of the biggest global and regional challenges of the current era, with its impact spreading beyond borders. Therefore, rather than relying solely on the actions of individual countries, SCO member states need to work together. The defense ministers also argued that it is essential to share intelligence and make border security more effective to shut down the financial sources, training centers, and logistical networks of terrorism.

In the context of the SCO, this meeting holds particular importance because the organization’s membership includes geographical and political diversity. Despite this, all countries maintain a similar approach to issues of security and stability. The meeting also discussed that aspects such as judicial cooperation, witness protection, and joint operations should be further strengthened in the fight against terrorism. Member states also expressed their commitment to accelerating legal processes against terrorist activities within their respective countries and maintaining smooth channels of communication with each other.

During the meeting, discussions also took place on regional military cooperation and skill development. The SCO defense ministers also suggested that joint military exercises should be promoted to increase the level of coordination and trust between the armies of different countries. The purpose of these exercises is not only military preparedness but also to deepen mutual understanding and cooperation.

Finally, the conclusions of the 25th meeting made it clear that the SCO is a platform where security-related issues can be discussed openly and rigorously. The defense ministers further emphasized that no country is alone in the fight against terrorism, and such collective action is the only and effective way to uproot the network of terrorism. This meeting will be recorded as an important step in strengthening the SCO’s security policies and guiding collective security initiatives in the coming years.