Middle Powers' New Playbook: Multipolarity's Unintended Consequences The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek was a stark reminder of the seismic shift underway in the international order.
The SCO's condemnation of Iran's military attacks and reaffirmation of its sovereignty were reassuring, but they also highlighted a crucial distinction: collective defence is not on offer from these alternative blocs.
The narrative surrounding multipolarity has long been that middle powers would find solace in joining organisations like BRICS and the SCO as a counterweight to Western dominance.