PM Modi’s SCO visit is loaded with expectations on BRICS Summit and UNSC election - The Hindu

**New Delhi, Aug. 29** – Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Tashkent on Saturday to begin a four‑day, two‑nation tour of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the first such visit by an Indian premier in more than a decade. He was received by President **Shavkat Mirziyoyev**, who welcomed him with a traditional Uzbek ceremony and highlighted the “enthusiasm of young friends” from Uzbekistan, a sentiment Modi echoed in a brief remark after the arrival ceremony. The two leaders are slated to sign a series of agreements covering trade, connectivity, renewable energy and people‑to‑people exchanges, while also holding a joint press conference that will underline the deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.

Beyond bilateral matters, Modi’s trip carries heightened expectations within the **Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)** framework, as India seeks to marshal support for two parallel diplomatic priorities. First, the upcoming **BRICS summit** – slated for August 2024 in Johannesburg – will see India push for greater coordination on issues ranging from supply‑chain resilience to reforms of global financial institutions. Indian officials hope that SCO members, particularly the Central Asian republics, will back India’s proposals for a more inclusive agenda that reflects the concerns of emerging economies. Second, India is actively campaigning for a **non‑permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council** for the 2024‑26 term, and the SCO platform offers an avenue to secure endorsements from its 12 member states. Analysts note that Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, both eager to showcase their own diplomatic relevance, could prove pivotal in shaping the voting dynamics at the UN.

The visit therefore serves as a micro‑cosm of New Delhi’s broader strategy to diversify its partnerships and assert a more prominent role in multilateral forums. By coupling high‑level bilateral talks with overt outreach to the SCO bloc, Modi aims to portray India as a bridge between South Asia, Central Asia and the wider Eurasian community. Observers say the success of this outreach will hinge on the concrete outcomes of the trade pacts and the degree of political backing India receives for its BRICS and UNSC ambitions – both of which could reshape the balance of influence in the Indo‑Pacific and beyond.