Analyst: Moscow blocks Baku's SCO bid, signals strains in Russian-Azerbaijani ties

Political analyst Suren Surenyants has commented on Azerbaijani media reports that Baku's bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has been blocked not only by India, but also by Russia.

Citing diplomatic sources, the Azerbaijani news agency APA reported that the issue was discussed during political consultations between Moscow and New Delhi.

“Russia deliberately placed India in the foreground, while remaining in the shadows,” Surenyants said in a social media post on Saturday.

While China openly supported Baku’s membership, the joint move by Russia and India underscores the resistance Azerbaijan faces in advancing its international ambitions.

“This development is a fresh signal of deepening cracks in Russian-Azerbaijani relations now visible even within the major international organizations,” the analyst stated.

“For Armenia, this shift could open up new diplomatic opportunities to promote its interests in the SCO and on other multilateral platforms,” he added.