Armenia has officially applied for membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), according to the “Adyrna” national portal.
The announcement was made by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a press conference held in Yerevan on July 16.
According to Pashinyan, this decision aligns with Armenia’s balanced foreign policy. The country already holds observer status within the SCO.
“We are not starting from scratch in seeking membership. Making such a move amid structural transformations in the organization is a legitimate and timely decision,” he stated.
The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously confirmed the country’s interest in joining the SCO, emphasizing that Armenia supports the organization’s core principles, such as territorial integrity, non-use of force, and the inviolability of borders.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization was founded in 2001. Its current members include Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Belarus. The organization’s main goal is to strengthen trust and cooperation among its member states.
