What is the current status of Saudi Arabia's relationship with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SC

Saudi Arabia has moved a step closer to joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a powerful regional bloc led by China and Russia. The Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance is recognized as the world’s largest regional organization, with eight members, four observer states and several dialogue partners, including Türkiye. The SCO was founded in June 2001 by China, Russia, and the Central Asian states of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Pakistan and India became full members in 2017.           Iran, an SCO observer state since June 2005, had its permanent membership approved in September 2021 and signed a memorandum of commitment a year later for its full accession.