China Hosts SCO Defense Ministers Meeting Amid Middle East Ceasefire

China hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, bringing together top defence officials from member states including Iran, Russia, India, Pakistan, and Belarus amid ongoing Middle East tensions and a NATO summit focused on increased military spending. Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun characterized the gathering as a response to a world facing "chaos and instability," criticizing unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic behavior that undermine global order, and called for strengthened multilateral cooperation through frameworks like the UN and SCO. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized the importance of regional stability, counter-terrorism, and economic cooperation, highlighting India’s commitment to the SCO's principles of sovereignty and mutual respect. Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh’s participation underscored efforts to enhance military cooperation between Tehran and Beijing following a recent ceasefire in the Middle East. The meeting, held at a major Chinese naval base, reflects China’s aim to position the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led alliances such as NATO, which recently agreed to boost defense spending to meet US President Donald Trump's expectations. Discussions focused on peace, security, and counterterrorism, with SCO members urged to coordinate more robustly to safeguard international fairness, justice, and strategic stability.