Editing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (section)

== Membership ==
{{Main|Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation}}
{{Horizontal timeline
|from=1994
|to=2025
|inc=1
|axis-nudge=-0.5em
|axis-1994=&nbsp;
|axis-marker-1994=&nbsp;
|axis-1995=&nbsp;
|axis-marker-1995=&nbsp;

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|styleDefault-3-border=none;
|styleDefault-4-border=none;

|styleMemberShanghaiFive-boxcolour=#CCCCCC
|styleMember-boxcolour=#346733
|styleObserver-boxcolour=#00FF00
|styleDialoguePartner-boxcolour=#FFFF00

|row1=note
|row1-1-at=1996.32
|row1-1-text=Establishment of S5

|row1-2-at=2001.45
|row1-2-text=Establishment of SCO

|row2=timeline
|row2-style=styleDefault
|row2-1-text=China
|row2-1-to=1996.32
|row2-2-to=2001.45
|row2-2-style=styleMemberShanghaiFive
|row2-3-to=2025
|row2-3-style=styleMember

|row3=timeline
|row3-style=styleDefault
|row3-1-text=Kazakhstan
|row3-1-to=1996.32
|row3-2-to=2001.45
|row3-2-style=styleMemberShanghaiFive
|row3-3-to=2025
|row3-3-style=styleMember

|row4=timeline
|row4-style=styleDefault
|row4-1-text=Kyrgyzstan
|row4-1-to=1996.32
|row4-2-to=2001.45
|row4-2-style=styleMemberShanghaiFive
|row4-3-to=2025
|row4-3-style=styleMember

|row5=timeline
|row5-style=styleDefault
|row5-1-text=Russia
|row5-1-to=1996.32
|row5-2-to=2001.45
|row5-2-style=styleMemberShanghaiFive
|row5-3-to=2025
|row5-3-style=styleMember

|row6=timeline
|row6-style=styleDefault
|row6-1-text=Tajikistan
|row6-1-to=1996.32
|row6-2-to=2001.45
|row6-2-style=styleMemberShanghaiFive
|row6-3-to=2025
|row6-3-style=styleMember

|row7=timeline
|row7-style=styleDefault
|row7-1-text=Uzbekistan
|row7-1-to=2001.45
|row7-2-to=2025
|row7-2-style=styleMember

|row8=timeline
|row8-style=styleDefault
|row8-1-text=India
|row8-1-to=2005.51
|row8-2-to=2017.44
|row8-2-style=styleObserver
|row8-3-to=2025
|row8-3-style=styleMember

|row9=timeline
|row9-style=styleDefault
|row9-1-text=Pakistan
|row9-1-to=2005.51
|row9-2-to=2017.44
|row9-2-style=styleObserver
|row9-3-to=2025
|row9-3-style=styleMember

|row10=timeline
|row10-style=styleDefault
|row10-1-text=Iran
|row10-1-to=2005.51
|row10-2-to=2023.6
|row10-2-style=styleObserver
|row10-3-to=2025
|row10-3-style=styleMember

|row11=timeline
|row11-style=styleDefault
|row11-1-text=Belarus
|row11-1-to=2010.32
|row11-2-to=2015.52
|row11-2-style=styleDialoguePartner
|row11-3-to=2024.51
|row11-3-style=styleObserver
|row11-4-to=2025
|row11-4-style=styleMember

|row12=timeline
|row12-style=styleDefault
|row12-1-text=Mongolia
|row12-1-to=2004.54
|row12-2-to=2025
|row12-2-style=styleObserver

|row13=timeline
|row13-style=styleDefault
|row13-1-text=Sri Lanka
|row13-1-to=2010.35
|row13-2-to=2025
|row13-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row14=timeline
|row14-style=styleDefault
|row14-1-text=Turkey
|row14-1-to=2013.32
|row14-2-to=2025
|row14-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row15=timeline
|row15-style=styleDefault
|row15-1-text=Cambodia
|row15-1-to=2015.73
|row15-2-to=2025
|row15-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row16=timeline
|row16-style=styleDefault
|row16-1-text=Azerbaijan
|row16-1-to=2016.20
|row16-2-to=2025
|row16-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row17=timeline
|row17-style=styleDefault
|row17-1-text=Nepal
|row17-1-to=2016.22
|row17-2-to=2025
|row17-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row18=timeline
|row18-style=styleDefault
|row18-1-text=Armenia
|row18-1-to=2016.29
|row18-2-to=2025
|row18-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row19=timeline
|row19-style=styleDefault
|row19-1-text=Egypt
|row19-1-to=2022.70
|row19-2-to=2025
|row19-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row20=timeline
|row20-style=styleDefault
|row20-1-text=Qatar
|row20-1-to=2022.70
|row20-2-to=2025
|row20-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row21=timeline
|row21-style=styleDefault
|row21-1-text=Saudi Arabia
|row21-1-to=2022.70
|row21-2-to=2025
|row21-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row22=timeline
|row22-style=styleDefault
|row22-1-text=Kuwait
|row22-1-to=2023.40
|row22-2-to=2025
|row22-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row23=timeline
|row23-style=styleDefault
|row23-1-text=Maldives
|row23-1-to=2023.40
|row23-2-to=2025
|row23-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row24=timeline
|row24-style=styleDefault
|row24-1-text=Myanmar
|row24-1-to=2023.40
|row24-2-to=2025
|row24-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row25=timeline
|row25-style=styleDefault
|row25-1-text=UAE
|row25-1-to=2023.40
|row25-2-to=2025
|row25-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row26=timeline
|row26-style=styleDefault
|row26-1-text=Bahrain
|row26-1-to=2023.55
|row26-2-to=2025
|row26-2-style=styleDialoguePartner

|row27=timeline
|row27-style=styleDefault
|row27-1-text=Afghanistan (Islamic Republic)
|row27-1-to=2012.43
|row27-2-to=2021.62
|row27-2-style=styleObserver
|row27-3-to=2025
|row27-3-style=styleDefault

|row28=scale
|caption={{small|{{legend inline|#346733|Member}}{{quad}}{{legend inline|#00FF00|Observer}}{{quad}}{{legend inline|#FFFF00|Dialogue partner}}}}
}}

=== Member states ===
{{Supranational Asian Bodies|align=right|size=380px}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Country !! Accession started !! Member since
|-
| {{flag|China}} || rowspan=6 | — || rowspan=6 | 15 June 2001{{efn|China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan were members of the Shanghai Five mechanism since 26 April 1996. Uzbekistan was included in the Shanghai Five mechanism on 14 June 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/supplement/3404 |script-title=ru:Совместное заявление глав государств Республики Казахстан, Китайской Народной Республики, Кыргызской Республики, Российской Федерации, Республики Таджикистан, Республики Узбекистан |trans-title=Joint statement of heads of state of Republic of Kazakhstan, People's Republic of China, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Republic of Uzbekistan |date=14 June 2001 |website=President of Russia |language=Russian}}</ref> The six states then signed a declaration establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on 15 June 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/events/president/news/41570 |script-title=ru:Главы государств «Шанхайского форума» приняли Декларацию о создании нового объединения – Шанхайской организации сотрудничества |trans-title="Shanghai Forum" heads of state have adopted the Declaration on creation of a new association – the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation |date=15 June 2001 |website=President of Russia |language=Russian}}</ref>}}
|-
| {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
|-
| {{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
|-
| {{flag|Russia}}
|-
| {{flag|Tajikistan}}
|-
| {{flag|Uzbekistan}}
|-
| {{flag|India}} || rowspan=2 | 10 June 2015 || rowspan=2 | 9 June 2017
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}}
|-
|{{flag|Iran}}
|17 September 2021
|4 July 2023<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-04/iran-joins-sco-the-china-founded-regional-security-grouping|title=Iran Joins SCO, the China-Founded Regional Security Grouping|newspaper=Bloomberg |date=4 July 2023 }}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Belarus}}
|16 September 2022
| 4 July 2024<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.btimesonline.com/articles/167333/20240703/china-and-russia-lead-efforts-to-expand-influence-with-belarus-addition-to-sco.htm|title=China and Russia Lead Efforts to Expand Influence with Belarus' Addition to SCO|first=Larry|last=Lee|date=3 July 2024|website=Business Times}}</ref>
|}

=== Observer states ===
{| class=wikitable
! Country !! Status granted
|-
| {{flag|Mongolia}}
| 2004<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Zhao |first=Suisheng |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1332788951 |title=The dragon roars back : transformational leaders and dynamics of Chinese foreign policy |date=2023 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-1-5036-3415-2 |location=Stanford, California |pages=70 |oclc=1332788951}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Islamic Republic of Afghanistan|name=Afghanistan}}{{efn|Since the overthrow of the [[Islamic Republic of Afghanistan]] and the reinstatement of the [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]] on 15 August 2021, [[Taliban]] representatives have not been participating in SCO meetings.<ref name="Taliban">{{cite web |first=Eva |last=Seiwert |title=The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Will Not Fill Any Vacuum in Afghanistan |url=https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/09/the-shanghai-cooperation-organization-will-not-fill-any-vacuum-in-afghanistan/ |website=[[Foreign Policy Research Institute]] |access-date=24 July 2022 |date=30 September 2021 |quote=So far, the SCO has not officially recognized the Taliban regime and did not invite its representatives to the summit in Dushanbe in mid-September.}}</ref>}} || 7 June 2012<ref name="AFGTUR" /> (Inactive since September 2021)
|-
| colspan="2" | <br />'''Former observers'''
|-
| {{flag|India}} || rowspan=3 | 5 July 2005<ref name=":0" />
|-
| {{flag|Pakistan}}
|-
| {{flag|Iran}}
|-
| {{flag|Belarus}} || 2015<ref name=":0" />
|}

=== Dialogue partners ===
The status of dialogue partner was created in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sectsco.org/EN/show.asp?id=64 |title=Regulations on the Status of Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation |date=28 August 2008 |publisher=The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation |access-date=11 June 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214203708/http://www.sectsco.org/EN/show.asp?id=64 |archive-date=14 February 2012}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
! Country !! Status approved !! Status granted{{efn|A country officially becomes a SCO dialogue partner after its minister of foreign affairs and SCO Secretary-General sign a memorandum granting the status.}}
|-
| {{flag|Sri Lanka}} || 15 or 16 June 2009<ref name="defence.lk">{{cite news |url=http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090618_05 |title=Sri Lanka gains partnership in SCO members welcome end to terror in country |date=30 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083026/http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090618_05 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |publisher=Ministry of Defence, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka}}</ref><ref name="IANS1">{{cite news |url=http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html |first=Rahul |last=Bedi |title=Sri Lanka turns to Pakistan, China for military needs |date=2 June 2007 |publisher=Urdustan.com Network |work=IANS |access-date=2 June 2007 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604170848/http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2007/jun/02/sri_lanka_turns_pakistan_china_military_needs.html |archive-date=4 June 2007}}</ref> || 6 May 2010<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mid.ru/en/foreign_policy/news/-/asset_publisher/cKNonkJE02Bw/content/id/250874 |title=Russian MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko Response to Media Question about the Signing of a Memorandum Granting the Status of SCO Dialogue Partner to Sri Lanka |date=12 May 2010 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia)}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Turkey}} || 7 June 2012<ref name="AFGTUR">{{cite news |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/7839137.html |title=SCO accepts Afghanistan as observer, Turkey dialogue partner |agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]] |via=''People's Daily'' |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=7 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128073821/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90883/7839137.html |archive-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 26 April 2013<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-123_-26-april_-2013_-press-release-concerning-the-signing-of-a-memorandum-with-the-shanghai-cooperation-organization.en.mfa |title=No: 123, 26 April 2013, Press Release Concerning the Signing of a Memorandum with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization |date=26 April 2013 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey)}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Cambodia}} || rowspan=4 | 10 July 2015<ref>{{cite web|last=Kucera|first=Joshua|date=10 July 2015|title=SCO Summit Provides Few Concrete Results, But More Ambitious Goals|url=https://eurasianet.org/sco-summit-provides-few-concrete-results-but-more-ambitious-goals|access-date=16 October 2021|website=[[Eurasianet]]}}</ref>|| 24 September 2015<ref>{{cite news |url=https://tass.com/economy/823294 |title=Cambodia becomes dialogue partner in SCO |date=24 September 2015 |work=TASS}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Azerbaijan}} || 14 March 2016<ref>{{cite news |url=https://mfa.gov.az/en/news/xarici-isler-naziri-elmar-memmedyarov-cin-xalq-respublikasina-isguzar-seferi-cercivesinde-sanxay-emekdasliq-teskilatinin-bas-katibi-resid-alimov-ile-gorusub |title=Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Rashid Alimov, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization within his working visit to the People's Republic of China |date=14 March 2016 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Azerbaijan)}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Nepal}} || 22 March 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mofa.gov.np/press-release-issued-embassy-nepal-beijing/ |title=Press Release issued by Embassy of Nepal, Beijing on Nepal officially joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a dialogue partner. |date=22 March 2016 |publisher=Government of Nepal – Ministry of Foreign Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804103547/https://mofa.gov.np/press-release-issued-embassy-nepal-beijing/ |archive-date=4 August 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=4 August 2018 |ref=44}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Armenia}} || 16 April 2016<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mfa.am/en/press-releases/2016/04/16/sco-dial-part/6038 |title=Armenia was granted a status of dialogue partner in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation |date=16 April 2016 |work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Armenia)}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Egypt}} || rowspan=3 | 16 September 2021 || rowspan=3 | 14 September 2022<ref>{{cite web |title=SCO member states signed memorandums on granting SCO dialogue partner status to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar |url=http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20220916/912890/SCO-member-states-signed-memorandums-on-granting-SCO-dialogue-partner-status-to-the-Arab-Republic.html |website=Shanghai Cooperation Organization |access-date=16 September 2022 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929072943/http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20220916/912890/SCO-member-states-signed-memorandums-on-granting-SCO-dialogue-partner-status-to-the-Arab-Republic.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Xi2022Meeting"/>
|-
| {{flag|Qatar}}
|-
| {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|-
| {{flag|Kuwait}}|| rowspan=5 | 16 September 2022<ref name="Xi2022Meeting">{{cite web |title=President Xi Jinping Attends the 22nd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State and Delivers Important Remarks|url=https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/zxxx_662805/202209/t20220916_10767162.html |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC|access-date=16 September 2022}}</ref>|| rowspan="4" | 5 May 2023<ref name="New SCO dialogue partners">{{cite web|title=New SCO dialogue partners|url=http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20230506/942021/-New-SCO-dialogue-partners.html|website=Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat|access-date=6 May 2023|archive-date=22 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522162243/http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20230506/942021/-New-SCO-dialogue-partners.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Maldives}}
|-
| {{flag|Myanmar}}
|-
| {{nowrap|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}}}
|-
| {{flag|Bahrain}} ||15 July 2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bna.bh/en/BahraingrantedthestatusofSCOdialoguepartner.aspx|title=Bahrain granted the status of SCO dialogue partner|website=www.bna.bh}}{{deadlink|date=July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20230718/951659/The-SCO-signs-a-memorandum-on-granting-the-Kingdom-of-Bahrain-the-status-of-dialogue-partner.html | title=Shanghai Cooperation Organisation &#124; SCO | access-date=23 August 2023 | archive-date=16 August 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816191931/http://eng.sectsco.org/politics/20230718/951659/The-SCO-signs-a-memorandum-on-granting-the-Kingdom-of-Bahrain-the-status-of-dialogue-partner.html | url-status=dead }}</ref>
<!--
|-
| colspan=3 | '''Upcoming dialogue partners'''{{efn|These countries have not yet signed memorandums granting them the status of SCO dialogue partner, so they are not ''de jure'' dialogue partners yet. Historically, such memorandum has been signed within a year from an announcement that a country is approved as SCO dialogue partner.}}
-->
|-
| colspan=3 | <br />'''Former dialogue partners'''
|-
| {{flag|Belarus}} || 15 or 16 June 2009 || 28 April 2010
|}

=== Guest attendances ===
Multiple international organisations and one country are guest attendances to SCO summits.
* {{Flag|Association of Southeast Asian Nations}}
* {{Flag|Commonwealth of Independent States}}
* {{Flag|Turkmenistan}}
* {{Flag|United Nations}}

[[Turkmenistan]] has previously declared itself a permanently [[neutral country]], which was recognized by a resolution adopted by the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in 1995,<ref>{{UN doc |docid=A/RES/50/80 |body=A |session=90 |type=R |resolution_number=50/80 |title=Maintenance of international security |date=12 December 1995 |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> thus ostensibly precluding its membership in the SCO.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/feature/sco-summit-2018-why-turkmenistan-is-not-part-of-the-eurasia-security-bloc-2711428.html|title=SCO Summit 2018: Why Turkmenistan is not part of the Eurasia security bloc|last=Shubham|date=7 June 2018|website=oneindia.com|access-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002956/https://www.oneindia.com/feature/sco-summit-2018-why-turkmenistan-is-not-part-of-the-eurasia-security-bloc-2711428.html|archive-date=20 February 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> At the same time, Turkmenistan is a member of the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] since 1992 and an observer of the [[Organization of Turkic States]] since 2021. Turkmenistan's head of state has been attending SCO summits since 2007 as a guest attendee.

=== Future membership possibilities ===
{| class=wikitable
! Country !! Status applied for !! Date
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}}
| Observer
| 2012<ref name="AzeriDaily">{{cite web |url=http://azeridaily.com/politics/957 |title=Azerbaijan asks to join a new alliance of China and Russia |work=Azeri Daily |date=15 September 2012 |author=Moskovskij Komsomolets |access-date=22 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222201738/http://azeridaily.com/politics/957 |archive-date=22 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-21 |title=Why the Shanghai Cooperation Organization matters |url=https://arab.news/5c83v |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=Arab News |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Syria}}
| Dialogue partner{{efn|Syria has initially applied for observer status, but "it was explained that first it is necessary to become a dialogue partner of the organization".<ref name="Interfax" />}}
| 2015<ref name="Interfax">{{cite news|date=23 June 2016 |url=http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=683491 |title=Syria, Israel, Egypt willing to join SCO's activity – president's special envoy |agency=[[Interfax]] |access-date=23 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816144553/http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=683491 |archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tass.ru/en/world/806320|title=Egypt applies to become dialogue partner of Shanghai security bloc – Kremlin aide|date=6 July 2015|access-date=15 August 2015|agency=[[TASS]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820191812/http://tass.ru/en/world/806320|archive-date=20 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Israel}}
| Dialogue partner
| 2016<ref name="Interfax" />
|-
| {{flag|Iraq}}
| Dialogue partner
| 2019<ref>{{cite news |date=5 September 2019 |title='SCO family' widening? Many candidates share 'Shanghai spirit', but expansion not a goal |url=https://tass.com/world/1076750 |work=[[TASS]] |access-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906165359/https://tass.com/world/1076750 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Algeria}}
| Observer
| July 2023<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2023 |title=Algeria Submits an Application to Join the SCO |work=Echorouk |url=https://www.echoroukonline.com/algeria-submits-an-application-to-join-the-sco}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 June 2023 |title=L'Algérie veut intégrer le capital de la banque des BRICS et l'organisation de Shanghai |work=L'Algérie Audjourd'hui |url=https://lalgerieaujourdhui.dz/lalgerie-veut-integrer-le-capital-de-la-banque-des-brics-et-lorganisation-de-shanghai/}}</ref>
|-
| {{flag|Laos}}
| Dialogue partner
| 2024<ref>{{cite news |date=May 2024 |title=African state applies to join Shanghai Cooperation Organization |url=https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274381084/african-state-applies-to-join-shanghai-cooperation-organization}}</ref>
|}

In 2010, the SCO approved a procedure for admitting new members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/wjdt_665385/2649_665393/201006/t20100625_679309.html|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China|title=Declaration of the 10th Meeting of The Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States Tashkent, 10-11 June 2010|date=11 June 2010|access-date=7 July 2024}}</ref> In 2011, [[Turkey]] applied for dialogue partner status,<ref name="TheHindu">{{cite news |last=Radyuhin |first=Vladimir |date=2 December 2011 |title=Vietnam bids to join SCO |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/vietnam-bids-to-join-sco/article2681358.ece |work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Moscow |access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref> which it obtained in 2013. At the same time, Turkey is a [[NATO]] member and the [[European Union]] candidate country. Turkish Prime Minister [[Recep Tayyip Erdoğan]] has stated that he has discussed the possibility of abandoning Turkey's candidacy of [[Accession of Turkey to the European Union|accession to the]] [[European Union]] in return for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.thenewturkey.org/turkey-between-shanghai-and-brussels |title = Turkey between Shanghai and Brussels|date = 14 May 2013|website = The New Turkey|last=Dalay|first= Galip|translator-last=Öz|translator-first=Handan|access-date = 1 July 2013|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160206085447/http://www.thenewturkey.org/turkey-between-shanghai-and-brussels/|archive-date = 6 February 2016}}</ref> This was reinforced again on 21 November 2016, after the [[European Parliament]] voted unanimously to suspend accession negotiations with Turkey.<ref>{{cite news| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-europe-erdogan-idUSKBN13F0CY| title = Fed up with EU, Erdogan says Turkey could join Shanghai Group| date = 21 November 2016| work = Reuters| last = Butler| first = Daren| access-date = 21 November 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170621032937/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-europe-erdogan-idUSKBN13F0CY| archive-date = 21 June 2017| url-status = live}}</ref> Two days later, on 23 November 2016, Turkey was granted the chairmanship of SCO energy club for the 2017 period. That made Turkey the first country to chair a club in the organisation without full membership status. In 2022, at the 22nd summit of the SCO, the Turkish president said that Turkey would seek full SCO membership status.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Turkey Seeks to Be First NATO Member to Join China-Led SCO |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-17/turkey-seeks-china-led-bloc-membership-in-threat-to-nato-allies?srnd=fixed-income |access-date=17 September 2022 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com| date=17 September 2022 }}</ref> On 11 July 2024, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated in a statement to the U.S. [[Newsweek]] magazine that they did not consider Turkey's membership in NATO as an alternative to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and [[BRICS]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-11 |title=Exclusive: Why Turkey's Erdogan Is Breaking With Biden on Ukraine and Gaza |url=https://www.newsweek.com/exclusive-why-turkeys-erdogan-breaking-biden-ukraine-gaza-1923595 |website=Newsweek |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2011, [[Vietnam]] expressed interest in obtaining observer status (but has not applied for it).<ref name="TheHindu" />

In 2012, [[Ukraine]] expressed interest in obtaining observer status. However, since the deposition of President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] and [[Russo-Ukrainian War|increased tensions with Russia]], no application has been submitted and there are no current plans to incorporate Ukraine into the organization.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 August 2012 |title=Yanukovych Tells Putin Kyiv Wants SCO Observer Status |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/yanukovych-tells-putin-kyiv-wants-sco-observer-status/24687868.html |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://infoshos.ru/en/?idn=10558 |title=Why Ukraine wants to become SCO's partner |last=Grigoryan |first=Gurgen |date=8 October 2012 |website=InfoSCO |access-date=6 August 2022}}</ref>

[[Azerbaijan]] expects to receive observer status according to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada. Azerbaijan will probably become a full member of the SCO in a little while, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during his meeting with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on 3 July 2024 in Astana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/104014/|title=Azerbaijan expects to become SCO observer - Foreign Ministry|website=interfax.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://en.apa.az/foreign-policy/kazakh-president-azerbaijan-will-probably-become-a-full-member-of-the-sco-in-a-little-while-441777 | title=Kazakh President: Azerbaijan will probably become a full member of the SCO in a little while }}</ref>