SCO Holds First Joint Live Anti-Terror Drills in China: A New Milestone in Regional Security
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held its first-ever joint live anti-terrorism exercises, called “Interaction-2024,” in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of Northwest China in July 2024, marking a significant step toward enhancing regional security. This exercise, which was the first to include all ten SCO members—China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus—marked a significant milestone and showed unprecedented unity in the fight against terrorism. This extensive exercise highlights the SCO’s increasing determination to improve collective defense capabilities and promote interoperability among its diverse members, reaffirming its position as a major player in Eurasian security as global terrorist threats resurface.
According to China’s Ministry of Public Security and the state-run news agency Xinhua, the “Interaction-2024” exercise concentrated on specialized operations meant to “eradicate terrorist groups.” As seen in footage from China Central Television (CCTV), the exercises, which were conducted in Xinjiang, a strategically important region due to its proximity to Central Asia, mimicked real-world scenarios, such as attacks on terrorist strongholds using armored vehicles, helicopters, drones, and even robot dogs. Experts like Li Wei from the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations have noted that the exercise reflects a unified stance against rising extremist activities across Central, South, and West Asia. The inclusion of all member states, a first in SCO history, highlights a shared recognition of terrorism’s transnational threat.
With 24% of the world’s landmass and 42% of its population, the SCO is the largest regional organization in the world. It was founded in 2001 and was extended to include India and Pakistan in 2017, Iran in 2023, and Belarus in July 2024. Since 2017, its Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has played a key role in stopping more than 600 terror plots and apprehending 500 terrorists, demonstrating its enduring dedication to counterterrorism. In contrast to earlier bilateral or multilateral exercises, like the Peace Mission series (2005–2016), Interaction-2024 improved operational coordination among the security forces of member states and established a new standard for joint live drills.
The exercises take place at a crucial moment as terrorism is on the rise everywhere, as evidenced by the March 2024 attack on a concert hall in Moscow and continuing threats in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe. Concerns about cross-border terrorism, separatism, and extremism are shared by China, which faces possible threats in Xinjiang, and other SCO countries. In line with accords such as the 2006 SCO pact on preventing terrorist infiltration, the exercise sought to improve border control, intelligence sharing, and cooperative investigations capabilities. The SCO is still tense, though, as evidenced by India’s refusal to support a joint statement at a defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao in 2025, citing worries about Pakistan’s alleged use of terrorism as state policy.
Despite internal disagreements, Interaction-2024 represents the SCO’s development into a strong platform for collective security for decision-makers and international observers. The group differs from military alliances in that it prioritizes cooperative stability and a multipolar global order. This historic exercise opens the door for greater cooperation in preserving the peace and security of Eurasia as the SCO works to improve its anti-terrorism framework.
Keep abreast of the SCO’s counterterrorism initiatives and how they affect regional stability.
